Show Notes:

The Impact of Splash Pages: Pros, Cons, and Best Practices

In this episode of the Business Ignite Podcast, hosts Ethan Walker and Samantha Reed discuss the role of splash pages in website design. Drawing insights from an article by 95 Visual, they explore the advantages and disadvantages of using splash pages, including their impact on user engagement and search engine optimization. The discussion highlights scenarios where splash pages can be beneficial, such as time-sensitive announcements and portfolio showcases, and emphasizes the importance of context and user experience. The episode concludes by posing a thought-provoking question about the applicability of splash screens in mobile apps.

00:00 Introduction to the Business Ignite Podcast

00:18 Diving into Splash Pages

00:58 Pros of Using Splash Pages

02:25 Cons of Using Splash Pages

04:08 When Splash Pages Make Sense

04:59 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

06:12 Conclusion and Listener Engagement

Resources:

• What is a Splash Page and Should I Have One? - A splash page is a standalone page that appears before visitors enter a website, often used for announcements, promotions, or age verification. While it can create a strong first impression, it's important to ensure it doesn’t disrupt the user experience or slow down access to the main content. Deciding whether to use a splash page depends on your specific marketing goals and the nature of your audience. https://www.95visual.com/resources/articles/what-is-a-splash-page-and-should-i-have-one

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Speaker: 00:00:00

Welcome back to the business ignite podcast, where we light the fire

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for business growth and marketing success.

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Your hosts, Ethan Walker, Samantha Reed,

bring you the latest trends, expert

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insights, and actionable strategies

to fuel your business journey.

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Let's ignite your potential.

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Samantha Reed: Hey, everyone.

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Welcome back.

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Ready to dive into something that

seems simple, but can totally make or

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break a website's first impression.

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Ethan Walker: I'm in.

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Let's do it.

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Samantha Reed: Today, we're

tackling splash pages.

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You know, those pages that pop up

before you get to the main site.

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Ethan Walker: Often with like a

big logo, maybe some graphics.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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We're using an article from

95 Visual as our guide today.

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Ethan Walker: Love their stuff.

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Always good insights.

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Samantha Reed: For sure.

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So, to splash or not to splash?

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That is the question.

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We'll break down the pros and cons so

you can make the call for your own site.

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Ethan Walker: Music to my ears.

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There's actually a lot to

unpack, even though it seems

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like such a basic design element.

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Samantha Reed: Right.

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Don't be fooled.

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It has a huge impact on how

visitors experience your site.

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But before we get to the potential

downsides, I gotta admit, the

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article did highlight some good

arguments for using splash pages.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah, in certain

cases they make a lot of sense.

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Samantha Reed: Like, for example, they

highlighted time sensitive announcements.

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Makes total sense when you think about it.

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Ethan Walker: Absolutely.

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If you've got a big product

launch, a limited time offer,

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A splash page is like BAM.

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That's the first thing people see.

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Samantha Reed: It's like your friend

who bursts into the room with huge news.

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You can't ignore him.

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Okay, that one clicked.

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But then they mentioned

speed as a potential benefit.

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And I was like, huh, help me out here.

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Ethan Walker: So think about it.

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Some websites, especially image heavy

ones, they take time to fully load, right?

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A splash page, being

simpler, loads super fast.

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Samantha Reed: Ah, so it's

like holding page almost.

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Yeah.

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While the rest catches up.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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Exactly.

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It manages expectations in

those crucial first few seconds.

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Mm

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Samantha Reed: hmm.

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Ethan Walker: No one wants

to stare at a blank screen.

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Samantha Reed: Totally.

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And speaking of managing expectations, uh,

the article also mentioned using splash

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pages for sites with multiple sections,

almost like mini sites within a site.

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What's the thinking there?

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Ethan Walker: Alright, so say

you're a freelance writer, you've

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got your portfolio, your blog.

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Mmm.

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Instead of dumping visitors on

a generic homepage, a splash

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page acts like a directory.

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Click here for this, here for that.

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Samantha Reed: Streamlining

things from the get go.

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Ethan Walker: Precisely.

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Especially on content heavy sites,

that clarity can be really valuable.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, so splash

pages can help people navigate a

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complex site, I'm getting that.

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But, and I know you're gonna

bring the honesty here, there's

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gotta be a downside, right?

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Like, when I think splash

page, part of me flashes back

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to those early 2000s websites.

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Oh,

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Ethan Walker: you mean the ones

with like the Starburst graphics

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and the auto playing MIDI music?

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Yeah, we've all been there.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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Is that part of the problem, or are

there other reasons people might not

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be so hot on splash pages these days?

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Ethan Walker: So it's a few things.

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Firstly, the article mentioned a

study, and this is kind of a big deal.

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25 percent of people, when they

hit a splash page, they bounce.

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Gone.

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Samantha Reed: Wait, seriously.

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A quarter of people just leave.

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Ethan Walker: That's

what the study showed.

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They get that extra page,

and they're out of there.

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Samantha Reed: Ouch.

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Okay, so aside from potentially driving

away a huge chunk of visitors, what else?

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Ethan Walker: Search engines

don't love them either, which In

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the online world is a problem.

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Samantha Reed: Because

if Google can't find you

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Ethan Walker: You're

kind of invisible, yeah.

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See, search engines, they're all

about indexing actual content.

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And splash pages, often

they're light on that.

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Samantha Reed: So it's like,

you've got a shop, but instead of

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putting your goods on display, it's

just a big door with your logo.

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People might not even realize

you're selling anything.

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Ethan Walker: 100%.

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It's a barrier to both humans

and search engine bots.

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Samantha Reed: Double whammy.

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Anything else to pile on here,

or are we done scaring everyone

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off splash pages forever?

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Ethan Walker: Well, the article

did use the word outdated.

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Like, it's not just the bad old websites.

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Even well done splash

pages can feel a bit: 2005

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Samantha Reed: Oh, tell me about it.

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Especially those ones

with no skip intro button.

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You're just held hostage.

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Ethan Walker: The worst.

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For repeat visitors especially, it's

like, I'm here every week, just let me in.

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Samantha Reed: It's that extra

step that no one asked for.

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So, okay, we've got Annoyed visitors,

confused search engines, and a possible

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error of been there, done that, not

looking great for the splash page so far.

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But, before we write them off

entirely, are there any scenarios

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where they actually make sense?

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Ethan Walker: Okay, so we've seen

the dark side of splash pages,

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but I'm sensing a but coming here.

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There's gotta be a time and a

place where they work, right?

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Exactly.

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It's all about strategy.

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The article gave a good example.

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Artists, photographers,

anyone with a portfolio.

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Samantha Reed: Makes sense, yeah.

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Instead of just words, you're

hit with visuals right away.

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Ethan Walker: It sets the tone, right?

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Like a sneak peek that makes you

want to see more, then boom, you

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guide people to different sections.

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Samantha Reed: So it's less

about bombarding, more like

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curating that first impression.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah.

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Samantha Reed: What about

beyond the art world, any other

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splash page success stories?

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Ethan Walker: Time limited stuff.

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Conferences, product launches,

things with a built in urgency.

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A splash page puts that front and center.

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Samantha Reed: Instead of making me hunt

for it on your about page or whatever.

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Ethan Walker: Plus, think

about the design possibilities.

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You can match the splash

to the event's whole vibe.

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Really draw people in.

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Samantha Reed: Okay, so splash pages,

not going extinct just yet, but sounds

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like the takeaway is they're not for

every website or every situation.

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Ethan Walker: 100%.

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It's all about context.

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What works for a photographer might

not work for, say, an e commerce store.

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Samantha Reed: So if someone's

listening thinking, do I need

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this on my site, what's the most

important thing to consider?

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Ethan Walker: Honestly, put

yourself in the visitor's shoes.

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Will this splash page make their

experience better or just slow them down?

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Samantha Reed: Because we all

know how frustrating it is to be

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held back from the good stuff.

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We want people clicking through to our

content, not clicking away because of

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a splash page that missed the mark.

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Ethan Walker: Couldn't

have said it better myself.

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At the end of the day, a good website

should be easy to navigate, quick to

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load, and focused on what really matters.

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The content.

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Samantha Reed: Words to live by.

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Alright everyone, big takeaway today.

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Splash pages can be powerful,

but only if you use them right.

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Think about your goals, your audience, and

always prioritize that user experience.

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Now, that's our take, but we want to

leave you with something to ponder.

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This article was all about websites,

but what about mobile apps?

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Those splash screens that

pop up while things load?

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Same rules apply.

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Or is it a whole different ball game?

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Let us know what you think.

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Until next time, happy designing.

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Speaker 2: Thanks for tuning

into the Business Ignite podcast,

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where we fuel your business

growth and marketing success.

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If you enjoyed today's episode,

be sure to rate and review us.

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It does help others find the show.

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Don't forget to follow us on social

media at Business Ignite podcast and

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share this episode with a friend.

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Keep the fire burning and remember,

your success is just one strategy away.

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Until next time, stay ignited.