Free Year of Hosting with a New Website Design or Redesign

If your website feels outdated, slow, hard to update, or just no longer represents your business well, now is a great time to make a change. 2Rivers Media is currently offering one full year of hosting free with a new website design or website redesign project.

A strong website should do more than simply exist online. It should load quickly, look professional on phones and desktops, help customers understand what you offer, and make it easy for them to contact you, request a quote, book a service, or buy from you.

What’s Included?

When you choose 2Rivers Media for your website design or redesign, we’ll build a clean, modern, mobile-friendly website designed around your business goals. Your project may include improved layout, updated branding, better calls to action, stronger content organization, and a smoother user experience.

As part of this offer, we’ll also include one full year of website hosting at no additional cost. That means one less thing to worry about while your new site goes to work for your business.

Who This Is For

This offer is a great fit for small businesses, service companies, local brands, ecommerce stores, contractors, clinics, outfitters, ranches, and anyone whose current website is not pulling its weight.

Let’s Build Something Better

Whether you need a brand-new website or a complete refresh of your current one, 2Rivers Media can help you create a site that looks better, works harder, and gives your customers a better first impression.

Ready to get started? Contact 2Rivers Media today and ask about the free year of hosting with website design or redesign offer.

What Should Small Businesses Outsource First: Website Updates, SEO, or Marketing?

Outsourcing your website management and marketing sounds simple until you start deciding what should be handed off first. Most small business owners know they need help, but they are not always sure whether to start with website updates, hosting, SEO, email marketing, social media, paid ads, or reputation management. The right answer depends on where your business is losing the most time, visibility, and sales opportunity.

If your website is outdated, slow, hard to update, or not bringing in leads, that is usually the best place to start. Your website is the center of your digital presence. Before pouring money into ads, social posts, or email campaigns, your website needs to clearly explain what you do, where you serve customers, why people should trust you, and how they can take the next step.

This article supports our guide on why small businesses should outsource website management and marketing by breaking down which services usually deliver the strongest first return.

Start With Website Management If Your Site Is Holding You Back

For many small businesses, website management should be the first outsourced task. A website that is not maintained can quickly become a liability. Broken forms, outdated plugins, slow page speed, missing calls to action, poor mobile formatting, and old service information can quietly cost you leads every month.

Outsourcing website management gives your business a dependable partner for updates, edits, maintenance, troubleshooting, and improvements. Instead of waiting until something breaks, your website can be actively managed so it stays useful, current, and aligned with your business goals.

At 2Rivers Media, our website management services are designed for businesses that need ongoing support without hiring a full-time web employee. This can include content updates, page edits, technical fixes, new landing pages, image changes, platform support, and general site maintenance.

Outsource Hosting and Technical Support Before Problems Become Expensive

Website hosting is not the flashiest part of digital marketing, but it matters. Poor hosting can affect page speed, security, uptime, and user experience. If your website loads slowly or goes down often, your marketing efforts are already fighting an uphill battle.

Small businesses often outgrow cheap hosting without realizing it. As traffic increases, plugins expand, images get larger, and website features become more complex, your hosting environment needs to keep up. A managed approach can help prevent performance issues before they turn into lost leads.

Businesses that need better speed, security, and reliability can explore website hosting services through 2Rivers Media. For outside reference, Google also explains why website performance plays an important role in the user experience.

Outsource SEO When Your Website Exists But Is Not Getting Found

If your website is built well but does not generate enough organic traffic, SEO may be the next best service to outsource. Search engine optimization is not just about adding keywords to a page. It includes content strategy, technical structure, internal linking, service pages, local signals, metadata, schema, content quality, and ongoing improvement.

Most small businesses do not have time to research keywords, write optimized content, monitor rankings, improve old pages, and keep up with search changes. That is why SEO is one of the most valuable marketing tasks to outsource. Done correctly, SEO can help your business show up when people are actively searching for your services.

Our SEO marketing services focus on building useful, search-friendly content that helps real customers understand your business. For general best practices, Google’s SEO Starter Guide is also a helpful external resource.

Outsource Website Design When Your Site No Longer Matches Your Business

Sometimes the issue is not maintenance. Sometimes the website itself is the problem. If your site looks outdated, lacks clear service pages, has poor mobile design, or does not reflect the quality of your business, outsourcing a redesign may be the smartest first move.

A well-designed website should do more than look good. It should guide visitors, answer common questions, build trust, support SEO, and make it easy for customers to contact you. Design, content, structure, and conversion strategy all need to work together.

Businesses needing a stronger online foundation can review our website design services. If you sell products online, our ecommerce design services may be a better fit for building or improving an online store.

Outsource Email Marketing When You Have Customers But Need Better Follow-Up

Email marketing is often overlooked by small businesses, but it can be one of the most effective ways to stay in front of past customers, leads, and repeat buyers. If you already have a customer list, quote requests, online orders, or seasonal promotions, email marketing may be a smart service to outsource.

The challenge is consistency. Many businesses send one or two emails, get busy, and stop. Outsourcing helps keep your email campaigns professional, scheduled, branded, and tied to actual business goals.

2Rivers Media offers email marketing services for businesses that want to promote offers, educate customers, announce updates, and stay visible. The Federal Trade Commission also provides guidance on CAN-SPAM compliance for businesses using email marketing.

Outsource Paid Ads When You Have a Strong Landing Page and Clear Offer

Paid advertising can work extremely well, but it should usually come after your website and landing pages are ready. Sending traffic to a weak page wastes money. Before launching paid ads, your business should have a clear offer, strong messaging, accurate tracking, and a page designed to convert visitors into leads or buyers.

Once that foundation is in place, paid ads can help generate faster visibility than SEO alone. This is especially useful for seasonal promotions, new services, local campaigns, ecommerce products, and competitive markets where organic rankings take time.

Our pay per click marketing services can help businesses build targeted campaigns around search intent, location, services, and conversion goals. Google also provides an overview of how Google Ads works.

Outsource Social Media When You Need Consistency and Better Messaging

Social media can be useful, but it becomes a burden when business owners feel forced to post without a plan. Random posting rarely builds momentum. A better approach is to use social media to support your website content, answer customer questions, highlight services, share proof, promote seasonal offers, and reinforce your brand.

Outsourcing social media can help your business keep a steady presence without pulling time away from operations. It also helps make sure your posts match your website, SEO content, promotions, and overall brand message.

2Rivers Media provides social media marketing services for businesses that need a more consistent and strategic approach to online visibility.

Outsource Reputation Management If Reviews Influence Your Sales

For local service businesses, medical practices, contractors, outfitters, ecommerce brands, restaurants, resorts, and professional services, online reviews matter. Customers often check reviews before they call, book, or buy. If your business has few reviews, inconsistent responses, or no review-building process, reputation management may be worth outsourcing.

Reputation management is not just about getting more stars. It is about encouraging satisfied customers to share their experience, responding professionally, and building trust before someone ever speaks with your team.

Our online reputation management services help businesses strengthen credibility and improve the way they appear online. For local visibility, Google also offers information about managing your Google Business Profile.

How to Decide What to Outsource First

The best place to start is usually the area creating the biggest bottleneck. If your website is broken, outdated, or difficult to update, start with website management. If your site looks poor or does not explain your services well, start with website design. If your website is strong but traffic is weak, start with SEO. If you already have traffic but leads are inconsistent, improve landing pages, calls to action, and conversion strategy before spending heavily on ads.

Here is a simple way to think about it:

• Website outdated or hard to update? Start with website management or redesign.
• Website slow or unreliable? Start with hosting and technical support.
• Not showing up in Google? Start with SEO and content development.
• Need leads faster? Build strong landing pages, then consider paid ads.
• Have customer lists but poor follow-up? Start with email marketing.
• Need stronger trust signals? Focus on reviews and reputation management.

The Best Outsourcing Strategy Connects Everything Together

The biggest advantage of outsourcing to a website and marketing team is continuity. Your website, SEO, email marketing, ads, social media, content, and reputation strategy should not feel like separate pieces handled by different people with different goals. They should work together.

That is where a managed approach becomes valuable. When one team understands your website, brand, services, customers, content, and marketing goals, every update can support the bigger picture. A blog post can support SEO. An SEO page can support ads. An email campaign can drive traffic to a service page. A landing page can support social media and sales follow-up.

That connected strategy is one of the main reasons small businesses choose to outsource. Instead of trying to hire, train, manage, and coordinate multiple people internally, they can work with a partner that already understands how these pieces fit together.

Work With 2Rivers Media

2Rivers Media helps small businesses manage, improve, and market their websites with practical services built around growth. Whether you need website updates, hosting, SEO, paid ads, email marketing, social media support, or a full website redesign, outsourcing can help you move faster and stay focused on running your business.

If you are still deciding whether outsourcing is the right move, read our full article on why you should outsource website management and marketing.

To talk through your website or marketing needs, contact 2Rivers Media today.

Server Location And Why It Matters for Tulsa Businesses

The Local Edge Of Hosting In Dallas, Texas.

When it comes to website performance, most business owners think about design, keywords, or marketing — but server location plays a crucial role. Every time a visitor loads your site, data travels from your website’s server to their device. The closer the server is to the visitor, the faster your website loads.

At 2Rivers Media, we host our client websites on a premium managed virtual server located in Dallas, Texas — strategically chosen to deliver faster speeds, higher reliability, and stronger SEO performance for Tulsa and Oklahoma businesses.

Source: Hosting.com Premium VDS Overview

The Speed Factor And Why Closer Servers Mean Faster Websites.

1. Lower Latency = Faster Page Loads

Website loading speed depends on latency — the time it takes for data to travel between a user’s browser and the server. Hosting your website near Tulsa in Dallas means:

• Faster loading for users in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Edmond, Enid, and nearby areas
• Reduced wait times for mobile users
• A smoother browsing experience, even during peak traffic

Get An SEO Boost! Google Loves Fast, Local Websites.

Search engines reward faster sites. Hosting closer to your audience improves server response time and strengthens your Core Web Vitals. Local hosting also signals geographic relevance to Google, helping your business rank for regional keywords such as:

• "Tulsa website design"
• "Oklahoma business hosting"
• "Tulsa digital marketing"

Regional Stability You Can Count On.

Our Dallas data center connects to multiple high-speed backbones, ensuring reliable uptime and robust security. With redundant systems and continuous monitoring, your site remains online, secure, and optimized for performance.

Why Dallas is Ideal for Oklahoma Hosting

• Close proximity to Tulsa and Oklahoma City for minimal latency
• Excellent regional fiber and internet infrastructure
• Strong redundancy for power, cooling, and networking
• Outside major storm corridors, offering added resilience
• Faster load times for customers across Oklahoma

Integrated Hosting + Design + Marketing

At 2Rivers Media, hosting isn’t a separate service — it’s part of an integrated digital strategy. Our team handles your website design, marketing, and branding all in one system to ensure every element works together for optimal performance and visibility.

Experience the Local Advantage

Your Oklahoma business deserves a hosting partner that understands local performance, local customers, and local marketing goals. By pairing a high-performance Dallas server location with the full creative power of 2Rivers Media’s digital services, we ensure your website runs fast, ranks high, and looks exceptional.

Request a Free Consultation or Learn More About Local Hosting.

Tulsa Website Hosting & Digital Services That Actually Work

Why Your Tulsa Business Needs More Than “Just Hosting”

In today’s digital landscape, your website is more than a static brochure, it’s your primary sales and credibility engine. If your hosting is slow, unreliable, or insecure, it drags down everything else. SEO rankings, user experience, conversions, even your brand reputation. That’s why smart businesses in Tulsa demand hosting solutions built on performance and paired with strategic services like design, marketing, and branding. Not piecemeal, siloed vendors.

At 2Rivers Media, we bring you a full-stack digital solution built for Tulsa businesses. We don’t just host your site, we ensure it performs, ranks, converts, and evolves.

High-Performance Managed Hosting Designed for Success

Enterprise-Class Hosting, Minus the Complexity

We use a managed virtual server architecture engineered for mission-critical performance:

• Robust server environment with advanced virtualization, ensuring your site scales seamlessly under load.
• Modern OS and security stack with hardened kernel management and server-level firewalling.
• Included tools for site security, performance management, and isolation.
• cPanel-based control for easy site management.
• Built-in protection against malware, intrusions, and automated threats.

Our setup is designed for serious businesses, no outdated, oversold shared hosting here.

Hosting You Can Trust

• 99.9% uptime guarantee.
• Secure SSL included automatically.
• Automated backups and patching.
• Support from the same team that designs and markets your site..
• Hosting reserved exclusively for 2Rivers clients for better control and performance.

Because we host only our own clients’ sites, we can offer higher reliability and faster support than generic hosts.

Learn more about our website hosting services.

How Tulsa Businesses Benefit from Our Hosting.

Speed & Reliability Is The Foundation

Slow pages lose customers. Search engines penalize sluggish sites. With our managed hosting setup, your site loads fast, scales under traffic surges, and stays online even under attack. That strong foundation ensures that every downstream investment, content, marketing, or ads performs better.

Expert Ops + Support Built In

When you host with us, you don’t just get a handoff to a generic “support portal.” You get direct access to the same team who can also handle your design, SEO, and marketing.

Our Services for Tulsa & Oklahoma Businesses

• Website Design & Redevelopment
• SEO & Digital Marketing
• Graphic & Brand Design
• Website Maintenance & Support

Why Tulsa Chooses 2Rivers Media

• Local focus and Oklahoma roots.
• End-to-end expertise from design to hosting.
• Performance and security as core priorities.
• Transparent communication and reliable delivery.
• Proven client results across industries.

Ready to Get Started?

If you're a Tulsa or Oklahoma business looking for serious web hosting, design, or marketing — stop settling for average. Let 2Rivers Media power your online presence with high-performance infrastructure and strategic digital services that move your business forward.

Request a Quote or learn more about hosting.

Why Your Business Should Be Using a CRM

In today’s fast-paced digital world, managing customer relationships effectively is the cornerstone of any successful business. Whether you're running a small startup or managing a thriving enterprise, investing in a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system can transform your operations, enhance your customer interactions, and drive growth. At 2Rivers Media, we specialize in helping businesses integrate and automate CRM systems to unlock their full potential. Here’s everything you need to know about why your business should be using a CRM and how we can help.

What is a CRM?

A CRM is a software platform designed to manage all interactions your business has with current and potential customers. It centralizes data, streamlines communication, and provides actionable insights to improve sales, marketing, and customer service. Think of it as the nerve center of your customer-centric operations.

Modern CRMs offer a variety of features.

• Contact Management: Centralized storage of customer information, including names, contact details, and interaction history.
• Sales Pipeline Tracking: Real-time tracking of leads and opportunities through the sales process.
• Marketing Automation: Automated email campaigns, social media scheduling, and personalized marketing workflows.
• Customer Support Tools: Ticketing systems, chatbots, and customer service management.
• Analytics and Reporting: Detailed insights into performance metrics to inform strategic decisions.

Why Do Businesses Use CRMs?

1. Enhanced Customer Experience

A CRM allows businesses to personalize interactions by providing access to detailed customer histories. This ensures every communication is relevant, timely, and impactful.

2. Improved Efficiency

By automating repetitive tasks like follow-ups, data entry, and email campaigns, your team can focus on higher-value activities, such as closing deals or resolving complex customer issues.

3. Better Collaboration

With a centralized data repository, teams across departments—sales, marketing, and customer service—can collaborate seamlessly, ensuring consistency and eliminating silos.

4. Data-Driven Decision Making

Access to real-time analytics helps businesses identify trends, measure ROI, and optimize strategies for greater success.

5. Scalability

As your business grows, a CRM system scales with you, providing tools to manage larger customer bases without compromising quality.

How to Integrate a CRM Into Your Business

Step 1: Assess Your Needs

Evaluate your current processes and identify pain points. Are your sales leads falling through the cracks? Is your customer service reactive rather than proactive? Pinpointing your challenges will guide your CRM selection.

Step 2: Choose the Right CRM

Not all CRMs are created equal. Industry-specific CRMs can offer tailored solutions. For example:

Real Estate: Platforms like BoomTown and LionDesk excel in managing property listings and client interactions.

Healthcare: Solutions like Salesforce Health Cloud help providers manage patient data and improve care coordination.

Retail: Shopify and HubSpot provide powerful tools for managing customer data and enhancing online shopping experiences.

Construction: Procore integrates CRM functionality with project management features, perfect for contractors.

Step 3: Plan Your Implementation

Seamless integration requires a strategy. Define goals, outline workflows, and set timelines to ensure your team is ready for the transition.

Step 4: Train Your Team

A CRM is only as effective as the people using it. Comprehensive training ensures your employees understand how to leverage the system’s features fully.

Step 5: Automate and Optimize

Leverage the automation features within your CRM to handle repetitive tasks, nurture leads, and track performance metrics effortlessly.

Why You Should Be Using a CRM

Without a CRM, your business is likely missing out on opportunities to engage customers, close sales, and improve operations. Here’s why you need to take the plunge:

1. Stay Competitive

In a market where competitors are leveraging CRMs to deliver exceptional customer experiences, falling behind is not an option.

2. Increase Revenue

A well-implemented CRM boosts sales by ensuring no opportunity is overlooked and every customer feels valued.

3. Save Time and Resources

Automation reduces manual workloads, allowing your team to focus on growth rather than administrative tasks.

4. Build Stronger Relationships

By understanding customer preferences and behaviors, you can foster loyalty and turn one-time buyers into repeat clients.

Ready to Elevate Your Business?

A CRM isn’t just a tool—it’s a game-changer for businesses looking to enhance customer relationships, drive sales, and streamline operations. Let 2Rivers Media guide you through every step of the process. Contact us today to learn how we can help your business grow with a cutting-edge CRM system.

2Rivers Media Partners with System Protection Partners to Offer Comprehensive Managed IT Services.

We at 2Rivers Media are thrilled to announce our expanded service offerings through a strategic partnership with System Protection Partners (SPP). This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our commitment to providing our clients with top-tier IT solutions that empower their businesses to thrive in an increasingly digital world. With over a decade of trusted collaboration, 2Rivers Media and SPP are ready to bring you a suite of Managed IT Services designed to streamline your operations, enhance your security, and ensure your business’s technological infrastructure is robust and reliable.

Our new Managed IT Services encompass a wide range of critical IT functions, all aimed at keeping your business running smoothly and efficiently. At the forefront of these services is Microsoft Business Email, a secure and efficient platform that enhances your organization’s communication and collaboration capabilities. Managed by the expert team at SPP, your email infrastructure will be robust, reliable, and ready to support your business’s needs.

In addition to Business Email, our Managed IT Services can include Remote Monitoring and Patch Management Services. With Remote Monitoring, we keep a vigilant eye on your IT systems around the clock, identifying and addressing potential issues before they escalate. Patch Management ensures that all your software is up-to-date with the latest patches, reducing vulnerabilities and optimizing performance. These proactive services are designed to prevent downtime, enhance security, and keep your IT environment running smoothly.

At 2Rivers Media, we are dedicated to providing our clients with the best possible IT solutions. Our partnership with System Protection Partners enables us to offer a comprehensive suite of managed IT services that are tailored to meet the unique needs of your business. We invite you to explore these new services and experience the benefits of having a trusted IT partner by your side. With 2Rivers Media and SPP, you can focus on what you do best – growing your business – while we take care of your IT needs.

For more information about our Managed IT Services and how they can benefit your business, please contact us today. We look forward to helping you achieve your business goals with our new and enhanced IT service offerings.

The Importance of Professional Website Design for Small Businesses

In today's digital age, having a professional and well-designed website is essential for most small businesses. Your website is often the first point of contact that any current or potential customers have with your brand. This makes it a crucial component of your online presence, which is why the quality of your business's website and the content it contains can have a significant impact on your brand's credibility and customer perception. A well-designed site not only attracts visitors but also encourages them to stay longer and engage with your content.

Professional website design involves more than just aesthetics. It encompasses user experience (UX), mobile responsiveness, SEO best practices, and security features. These elements work together to create a seamless experience for your visitors, making it easier for them to find the information they need and take the desired actions. When your business invests in a professionally designed website, it can promote higher conversion rates, improved customer experience, and overall satisfaction.

In this article, we'll explore the importance of professional website design, key elements to consider, and how it can impact your business's success. Understanding these aspects will help your small business create a website looks great and functions effectively, driving your business growth in the competitive digital landscape.

Why Professional Website Design Matters

First impressions are critical in business, and your website is often the first touch point for potential customers. Having a professionally designed website helps to create a positive first impression and establishes credibility. Your company's website visitors are more likely to browse and trust your website and engage with intent when your website looks modern, well-structured, and easy is to navigate. Studies have shown that users judge a website's credibility based on its design within seconds of landing on it. A poorly designed and outdated website can and in most cases, will deter potential customers while also negatively affect your brand image.

A well-designed website also offers an enhanced user experience (UX). It makes it easy for visitors to find information, navigate through pages, and interact with your content. Good UX reduces bounce rates and increases the time internet users will spend on your website, this can lead to higher conversion rates. By focusing on UX, you ensure that your business's website meets the expectations of your customer base, leading to a more satisfying experience and better business outcomes.

Mobile responsiveness is another crucial aspect of professional website design. With over half of all website traffic coming from cell phones and mobile devices, making sure that your business has a mobile-responsive website is essential. A professional freelancer or website design agency should ensure that your company's website both looks and functions great on all technology devices, from desktops to smartphones and everything in between. This not only improves the user experience but can also have a positive impact on your Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo search engine rankings, as search engines prioritize mobile-first website designs.

Key Elements of Professional Website Design

A clean and modern layout is visually appealing and easy to navigate. Avoiding clutter and using whitespace effectively can create a balanced and professional look. Your website should be in a well-organized layout helps potential customers find information more quickly and easily, improving their overall browsing or shopping experience on your site. Making sure that your design is consistent with design elements like fonts, colors, and spacing are another important factor in polishing up your website design.

High-quality content is another vital component of professional website design. Content is king, and your website should feature informative, engaging, and high-quality content that actually provides value to your website visitors. This includes well-written text, relevant images, and helpful videos. Quality content not only keeps visitors engaged but also helps improve your website's SEO, making it a heck of a lot easier for potential clients or customers to find your online business.

Strong visual elements, such as high-quality images, videos, and other marketing graphics can help to enhance the visual appeal of your site. Visuals should be relevant and support your brand message, creating a cohesive and compelling experience for your visitors. Clear calls to action (CTAs) are also crucial. CTAs guide visitors towards taking desired actions, such as signing up for your company newsletter, making an online purchase, filling out a request for quote, or using a simple contact form. Make sure your CTAs are clear, compelling, and strategically placed to maximize their effectiveness.

How Professional Website Design Impacts Business Success

Your professionally designed website should help to build credibility and trust with your target audience. It helps to show that you are a legitimate and established business, which can lead to increased customer confidence and loyalty. Higher conversion rates are another significant benefit. A well-designed website with clear CTAs and a smooth user experience can turn visitors into customers, driving sales and revenue for your business.

Having a professional website also gives you a competitive advantage. It sets you apart from competitors with outdated or poorly designed sites and positions you as a leader in your industry. This can attract more customers while helping you to build a much stronger brand presence in your perspective market. Additionally, a positive user experience encourages repeat visits and customer retention. Regularly updating your website with fresh content can help to keep your audience engaged over time and checking back constantly for more content.

Investing in professional website design is crucial for small businesses looking to succeed in their local landscape, or even on a national scale. A well-designed site enhances user experience, improves SEO, builds credibility, and drives business growth. By prioritizing a professional website design, your company can create a strong presence online that attracts and retains customers, helping to nurture your company's long-term success.

Have questions about getting a professionally designed website? Contact us at 2Rivers Media today.

Software and other digital technology we work with.

We are often asked, “What software does 2Rivers know how to work with?” when clients first reach out. So, we figured to make things simple. Below is a list of some trusted software, web applications, CMS systems, and other tech that contribute to successful digital experiences online.

eCommerce and content management systems we work with.

• WordPress
• Shopify
• Bigcommerce
• Ecwid

Email marketing software that we work with.

• Omnisend
• Mailchimp
• Constant Contact
• HubSpot

CRM software that we work with.

• ZOHO CRM
• Salesforce CRM
• HubSpot CRM

Photo editing software we work with.

• Adobe
• Corel
• Canva (Lots of clients use this as it’s a great, affordable photo editing tool for those looking to create some of their own graphics and share with us.)

Marketing software we work with.

• SEM RUSH
• AHREFS

Form software we work with.

• Paperform
• Jotform

Ecommerce applications we work with.

• Rewind Backups
• QuickBooks
• ShipStation
• Shipper HQ
• GoAffiliate
• AvaTax
• TaxJar

Accessibility software for websites we suggest.

• Accessibe

If you have any questions about your website, digital marketing, or improving your local SEO contact 2Rivers today.

Why you should be using QR codes for your business.

Most consumers and business owners come across QR codes at some point in their day to day life. Whether its on a business card, an instruction manual, or in the window of a storefront, QR codes can be seen virtually anywhere. These scannable codes tend to make both consumers and business owners lives a little easier, which is part of the reason for their popularity, and for good reason. Below we’ll dive into the world of QR codes and why your business should be using them, and how to maximize their effectiveness for your consumers with a couple examples.

So. What are the top reasons your business should be using QR codes?

1. QR codes are extremely easy to use, and the easier you can get your consumer to your products or services the better for you, and them.
2. These codes show your consumer that your business is “with the times” and tech savvy. Not still living in the 90’s.
3. QR codes are extremely cost effective tool for your business.
4. Analytics are everything in business. With QR codes, business owners can easily track the number of scans knowing exactly where your consumer traffic is coming from.
5. They can help boost your social media following.
6. QR codes can provide useful information without taking up space that print otherwise would.

QR codes are extremely easy to use.

Easy for both consumers and businesses. QR codes can take the hassle out of remembering long website URLs, making it easier for your customer to access and purchase your businesses products and services.

Show consumers you’re keeping up with the times.

We live in a digital age. Showing your customer that you’re “up with the times” is a great way to stay ahead of your competition and the technological curve. And, as mentioned above. They are simple to use, cheap to create, and can help automate your work life.

Speaking of cost effectiveness.

QR codes are downright cheap. Depending on how many you need, the number of scans, and customization requirements, you can create QR codes for as little as a few dollars a month. At 2Rivers Media, we’ve become fans of QR-Code-Generator as it has served our clients in various ways for a number of years.

Get real, accurate analytics with QR codes.

When a QR code is scanned, that scan is tracked within a database. This allows you as a business owner to see how many times a specific QR code is being used, making it great for magazine and other forms of print advertising where you would otherwise have to rely on customers telling you they saw an add or lead capture forms that ask them. And, with QR codes specific to certain ads in this case, you won’t be left wondering if you could have spent your money better elsewhere.

Boost your social media following.

You can utilize QR codes to easily link to all of your social media profiles, making it simple for consumers to follow, like and subscribe to all your content across various online platforms.

Save money on print literature while conserving space.

We mentioned being tech savvy earlier. QR codes can be utilized to send people to digital PDFs that can include everything from pamphlets to instructional content and everything in between. No more need for various tri-folds taking up counter space and costing you money. Although they still have their place…

Now that we’ve outlined the benefits of using QR codes, lets talk about where you can use them.

Common places QR codes are used by businesses.

• QR codes on business cards.
• QR codes for storefront signage.
• QR codes in instructional content.
• QR codes for business reviews.
• QR codes for booking.
• QR codes for magazine and print advertising.

Using QR codes on business cards.

One of the most popular places to use these codes is on business cards. These codes are cleaner than having multiple URLs that muddy up your business cards which are often your first point of contact in B2B sales. With QR codes you can easily get more customer reviews, send people to your website, or have someone schedule a service or appointment online.

QR codes for storefront signage.

Sometimes customers show up to your business outside of hours. QR codes on your storefront windows can be used to send people to your Google My Business listing where they can see your regular business hours, Google reviews and other content you share through your GMB listing. Businesses can also utilize them so customers can schedule an appointment online, or send that potential customer to view your social media channels where they can see all your social proof from prior and current customers.

QR codes for upsells in instructional content.

Using codes in print materials for instructional content can offer endless “up-sell” opportunities for your business. Just take a look at the example below.

QR codes for booking online.

As mentioned above. QR codes can be utilized to book consultation or services by simply scanning the code. Place the code on your storefront, print media, back of a product package or service pamphlet to allow your customers to easily make appointments or schedule a service call.

Collect more reviews.

This is a big one, and people can be lazy when it comes to this, which is why you need to make it easy. We are constantly asked how to obtain more business reviews, and as easy as possible. It’s funny how a “mistreated” customer will search high and low to leave a bad review, but when treated right, leave things unsaid. Using QR codes on business cards, storefront signage, laminated pieces of paper on your checkout counter, or simply plastered on the wall in your office can help boost the amount of reviews your business collects. Why is this? Simply because they don’t have to go out of their way to do so.

There are other countless ways for businesses to utilize QR codes effectively to help create and increase your brands awareness, as well as automate and make running your business a little bit easier so you can focus on growing it, not just running it.

If you have any questions about how to create one, why you should, or want someone to do it for you, contact 2Rivers today.

Do I need WordPress maintenance package?

In short. Yes. There are a multitude of reasons as to why you should have a comprehensive WordPress maintenance package. In this article we are going to cover the three main reasons.

You can click the links below to jump to a specific section. 

• Keep your WordPress site from being hacked.
• Mitigate critical WordPress errors.
• Maintain and increase site speed.

Keeping your WordPress website from being hacked.

WordPress is commonly targeted by malicious hackers due to the massive number of businesses that use it. Estimates put the total number of WordPress websites upwards of 450 million, or roughly 43% of all websites on the internet. So yes, your WordPress website needs a maintenance plan to keep it safe, secure, and online so that your company is available to your customers 24/7.

You don’t want to be “that guy” that realizes you needed a WordPress maintenance package until it was too late. At this point, website owners usually find themselves thinking…  Do I have a website backup? Is my site completely toast? How much down time will there be? How much is it to fix a hacked website?

While all these real concerns, they can be avoided by maintaining and monitoring your website on a regular basis and at an affordable cost. And, when you compare it to WordPress website recovery cost or rebuilding a lost website, it’s a drop in the bucket.

So, how do you mitigate hackers?

• STRONG passwords. Using the same password that you use everywhere else is a big no-no.
• Keep plugins up to date. WordPress plugins are how most WordPress websites end up hacked through some kind of vulnerability. You can get a weekly vulnerability report updating you on which plugins have been exposed, patched versions and whether they can even be fixed here.
• Keep the WordPress core version up to date.
• Make sure your website is secure with an SSL certificate.
• Utilize 3^rd party website forms for website submissions and collecting customer information. These forms are also great for automating and integrating various CRM software and systems.
• Minimalize your plugins by using 3^rd party software applications.

The reality is all websites, even the big dogs like your Experian’s and Yahoo’s have been susceptible to successful hacks, so anything you can do to improve security is imperative.

Maintain your site to avoid critical errors.

Hackers aren’t your only threat. We’ve been contacted several times by business owners who can’t access their websites and have no clue why. The answer? Usually, an automatic update that either conflicts with your website’s current WordPress version or an outdated plugin that no longer works with the latest version of WordPress.  Sometimes plugin authors will ditch updates all together, requiring you to find another solution.

WordPress websites utilize plugins for added features. These plugins must be kept up to date and tested against other plugins to avoid conflicts which can cause your website to crash. As bad as a hacker? No.  But still not something you want to deal with. When your website can’t be reached online, you’re losing business and more likely to a competitor.

By keeping your websites software and plugins up to date, you reduce the chance of this happening and if it does, you’re ready immediately with automated WordPress backups.

A good rule of thumb before updating a plugin on WordPress is to click “View Details” of the plugin you are looking to update. Here you will find the basics and notes about the latest version such as.

• Plugin version.
• The plugin author.
• When it was last updated.
• Which WordPress version is required.
• Which WordPress version it is tested to.
• The required PHP version to securely run the plugin.

Keeping plugins and your WordPress core version up to date will help mitigate most issues WordPress website owners face.

Maintain and increase website speed.

You want to always ensure that your website is running smoothly. This will not only improve your search engine performance, but your customer journey as well. This is also one of the best ways to increase conversions and keep customers coming back.

Another added benefit to increased site speed is the direct impact it lends to your website’s search engine performance.

How does website speed effect SEO?

• Page load speed is one a key determining factors for Google’s algorithm.
• Google’s “job” is to serve its user base the best online experience. Faster websites provide a better user experience, therefore are served more frequently in organic SEO results.
• Faster page speed leads to longer time on websites. This decreases your bounce rate proving to Google you are serving users’ authoritative content.

So, what are the other benefits of a fast-loading website?

• Increased page views.
• Increased click through rates.
• Better conversion rates.
• Offer customers the best online experience.

As one of your business’s most important assets. Your website should be looked at as a long-term investment, meaning regular maintenance is a must to keep it atop the rankings and operating efficiently.

At 2Rivers Media, we understand the importance of keeping your WordPress website running smoothly and securely. Our comprehensive WordPress maintenance packages are designed to take the hassle out of website maintenance, allowing you to focus on your core business while we handle the technical details.

With our team of experienced WordPress experts, we provide regular updates, backups, security scans, performance optimizations, and more to ensure your website stays secure, up-to-date, and running at its best.

Contact 2Rivers Media today to see how we can help keep your website online, safe and secure for your customers 24/7.