Show Notes:

In this episode of the Business Ignite Podcast, hosts Ethan Walker and Samantha Reed explore essential elements for creating an effective business website. Guided by insights from digital marketing agency 95Visual, the discussion covers the importance of a clean homepage, clear location information, detailed service descriptions, social media integration, and a robust Contact Us page. Listeners are encouraged to view their website as a dynamic entity, continually improving to enhance user experience and maintain a strong online presence. The episode emphasizes the impact these elements can have on customer perception and business growth.

00:00 Introduction to Business Ignite Podcast

00:42 The Importance of a Clean Homepage

01:34 Making Your Location Easy to Find

02:17 Showcasing Your Services and Expertise

03:10 Harnessing the Power of Social Media

04:26 Crafting the Perfect Contact Us Page

06:16 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Resources:

• 5 Things your website must have - These articles outline five essential elements every website needs to succeed. Part 1 focuses on the importance of clear messaging, responsive design, and easy navigation, ensuring visitors have a smooth and intuitive experience. Part 2 covers the critical need for strong calls to action and a seamless user journey that encourages conversions. Together, these elements create a website that not only attracts visitors but also turns them into customers. https://www.95visual.com/resources/articles/5-things-your-website-must-have-part-1 https://www.95visual.com/resources/articles/5-things-your-website-must-have-part-2

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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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Ethan Walker: All right.

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Welcome in deep divers ready

to make those websites shine.

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Samantha Reed: Let's do it.

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Websites are the digital

front door, right?

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Got to make that first impression count.

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Ethan Walker: And today's deep dive is all

about unlocking those must have elements

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that will make your site a total knockout.

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We're taking cues from 95 visual.

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They're a digital marketing

agency, really know their stuff.

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Samantha Reed: They've

got some great insights.

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Five key things every website needs.

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Ethan Walker: And first one,

it's all about keeping it clean.

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Samantha Reed: Ah, the

classic less is more approach.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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Think about your website's homepage.

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It's the prime real estate.

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You don't want it to feel like

a cluttered storeroom, right?

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Samantha Reed: Absolutely not.

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Yeah.

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Visitors should be able to immediately

get a sense of who you are and what

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you offer, without feeling overwhelmed.

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It's about clarity and impact.

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Ethan Walker: Like imagine walking into

a shop and there's just stuff everywhere.

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Chances are you're

turning right back around.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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95 Visual actually found that people

decide whether they like a website

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or not in a fraction of a second.

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Ethan Walker: No pressure, right.

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Samantha Reed: None at all.

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But that's why a clean,

organized homepage is so crucial.

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It's about making navigation effortless

and inviting people to explore further.

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Ethan Walker: So we've decluttered.

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We've created a space

that's visually appealing.

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What's next on our website checklist?

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Samantha Reed: Well, let's talk about

something that often gets overlooked.

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Location, location, location.

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Ethan Walker: You're telling me I

need a giant map on my homepage?

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Samantha Reed: Not quite, but close.

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You'd be surprised how many people

go to a website simply to find

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out where a business is located.

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Ethan Walker: Makes sense.

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It's like, okay, you've got

my attention online, but where

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are you in the real world?

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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Don't make them hunt for

that address or phone number.

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Make it prominent, easy to find.

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Maybe even consider adding a Google

Maps link for extra convenience.

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Ethan Walker: Oh, that's smart.

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Saves me from having to open up a separate

tab and do a whole separate search.

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Streamlining, I like it.

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Samantha Reed: It's all

about that user experience.

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Ethan Walker: Okay, so

location is locked in.

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What else should we be thinking about?

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Samantha Reed: Now it's time

to dive into the detail.

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Okay,

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Ethan Walker: let's get specific.

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Samantha Reed: Think about what

you offer your services, your

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products, your unique approach.

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This is your chance to really

showcase your expertise and build

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trust with potential customers.

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Ethan Walker: It's giving transparency.

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Right.

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Being upfront about what

you bring to the table.

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Samantha Reed: Absolutely.

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95 visual use the example of

a carpet cleaning business.

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Break down the process.

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What steps are involved?

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What kind of equipment do you use?

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What makes you stand out

from the competition?

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Ethan Walker: It's like giving

people a peek behind the curtain.

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They see you're not hiding anything

and that builds confidence.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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Transparency goes a long

way in the online world.

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Ethan Walker: Okay, we're three for

three on those website must haves.

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A clean homepage, easily

accessible location info, and

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detailed service descriptions.

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Samantha Reed: We're just getting started!

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Ethan Walker: Alright, so we've got a

website that's clean, easy to navigate,

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and tells people exactly where to find us.

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What's next on our website makeover list?

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Samantha Reed: Well, in today's

digital age, we can't forget

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about the power of social media.

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Ethan Walker: Right.

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Got to have those little icons, right?

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Facebook, Instagram, the whole nine yards.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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But they're not just there to look pretty.

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Those icons are like bridges

connecting your website to

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your social media platforms.

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Ethan Walker: It's all about

expanding that online presence.

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Samantha Reed: Precisely.

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Your website is your home base.

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But social media is where you can really

let your personality shine through.

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Share behind the scenes content,

engage with your followers, maybe

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even show off your sense of humor.

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Ethan Walker: Because, let's face it,

nobody wants to see a boring website.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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And 95 Visual really emphasizes having

those social media icons visible

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on every single page of your site.

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Make it easy for people to connect

with you wherever they are.

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Ethan Walker: Makes those impulse

follows more likely too, right?

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Yeah.

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Someone's reading your latest blog

post, they're loving your insights,

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and BAM, they spot that Twitter bird

and decide to give you a follow.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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It's seamless experience

for your audience.

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They can easily jump from your website

to your social media and back again.

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Ethan Walker: Okay, so we've

covered a lot of ground here.

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Clean home page, location,

service details, social media.

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What's the final website

must have on our list?

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Samantha Reed: This one might seem

like a no brainer, but you'd be

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surprised how often it gets overlooked.

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A dedicated contact us page.

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Ethan Walker: Wait, really?

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But that seemsbasic.

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Samantha Reed: You'd

think so, wouldn't you?

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But you want to make it as easy as

possible for people to get in touch.

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Ethan Walker: Because if they're on your

contact page, they're already interested.

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You don't want to create any

roadblocks at that point.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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95visual actually found that the Contact

Us page is often the second most visited

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page on a website right after the home

page, so it's crucial to make it count.

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Ethan Walker: Okay, so spill the tea.

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What makes a Contact Us

page really stand out?

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Samantha Reed: Well, first and

foremost, make it easy to find.

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It shouldn't be buried in some

obscure corner of your site.

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Make sure it's clearly linked

in your navigation bar.

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Maybe even in the footer of every page.

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Ethan Walker: Yeah, like you said,

it's one of the most visited pages.

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Don't make people hunt for it.

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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And once they're there, give them options.

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Some people prefer to pick up the phone.

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Old

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Ethan Walker: school.

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Samantha Reed: Right?

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While others are all about that email.

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Ethan Walker: Email or live chat hitting

that send button is so satisfying.

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Samantha Reed: It is.

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So provide a phone number, an

email address, maybe even a

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contact form, so they can fire off

a message right then and there.

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Ethan Walker: And if we really want to

go above and beyond, that's where that

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Google Maps link comes in handy again.

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Samantha Reed: Absolutely.

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Especially if you have

a physical storefront.

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Make it easy for people to find you.

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Ethan Walker: Because sometimes

There's just no substitute

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for seeing things in person.

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Okay, so we've got a beautifully

designed Contact Us page.

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It's easy to find, it's

got all the options.

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Anything else we should keep in mind?

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Samantha Reed: Oh, I've got one more tip.

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And 95 Visual actually

touched on this too.

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Don't forget those social media

icons on your Contact Us page.

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Ethan Walker: Right, because why not

give people another way to connect?

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Samantha Reed: Exactly.

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It's all about casting a wide net.

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Some people might DMs on Instagram

rather than composing a formal email.

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Ethan Walker: It's about giving people

options and meeting them where they are.

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Samantha Reed: Precisely.

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Ethan Walker: Wow.

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This has been such a crash

course in website optimization.

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We've covered so much ground, a

clean homepage, that all important

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location information, breaking down

those services, harnessing the power

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of social media, and of course,

crafting the perfect contact us page.

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Samantha Reed: It's all about

those little details, right?

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They might seem small, but they

can make a big difference in how

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people perceive your brand online.

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Ethan Walker: It's like, you might have

the best product or service in the world.

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But if your website is difficult

to navigate, or doesn't make

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a good first impression,

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Samantha Reed: You're missing

out on potential customers.

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Ethan Walker: Exactly.

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Samantha Reed: So think of your

website as an evolving entity.

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Always room for improvement.

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Always room to experiment.

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It's

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Ethan Walker: a journey,

not a destination, right?

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Exactly.

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Well, on that note, a huge thank

you to 95 Visual for providing the

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inspiration for today's deep dive.

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And to you, our amazing

listeners, thanks for joining us.

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Now go out there and create

those website masterpieces.

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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.