The Best Marketing Partner Makes You Stronger

If you run a marketing department, you may be familiar with this one: ideally, your staff would do everything in-house, but a tight budget keeps you from committing full-time to a third-party vendor. Your staff is overextended because they wear many hats, and the alternative is bringing on vendors to handle important recurring work and adopting a permanent one-way relationship. A vendor you can't afford to leave. The kind of partnership that only works for you as long as you keep paying. And you're paying for work your own team could ideally be doing.

You can't always get away from having to use vendors, but your vendors can pay dividends. A good partner gives your team superpowers. Training, Systems, Procedures, from a third party who also brings outside perspective and specialized skill. Twothirty Media's goal is to make your team more capable, while staying in the relationship as a partner rather than a gatekeeper.

The Harder Call

Pittsburgh Opera brought Twothirty on to train their staff on HubSpot and help decide whether to stick with it long term. Making an honest recommendation meant we needed to perform a full audit of every part of their HubSpot setup, a staff survey, and a technical review of how it connected to their core database. From there we built out a weighted comparison of the realistic options, scoring each on things like how familiar the team already was with it, how reliably it would run day to day, and what it would actually cost to maintain over time, not just up front

We ended up recommending a move to Prospect2 instead, with their core database staying the system of record and HubSpot trimmed back to just the pieces it was still useful for. It saved them money, but the bigger reason it was right is that it fit how their organization actually operated, something we only understood by getting into the details with their staff rather than assuming one platform works the same way everywhere. Every organization we've worked with, big or small, has its own inner workings, and out-of-the-box software that fits perfectly is a valuable rarity because of that.

Recommending a switch instead of continuing the training work meant walking away from revenue we could have kept by just delivering what we were hired to do. But the right call for them wasn't "stay on HubSpot," so that's what we told them.

The Long Game

When the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy asked for a publications style guide, we didn't just hand over a color palette. We went through their existing creative work with them piece by piece, pulled out the colors and fonts that were actually working, and codified the designs of our more recent work into a full publications guide, covering their Annual Report, CONSERVE magazine, and other pieces. It sets rules for everything from typography hierarchy down to how captions and pull quotes are styled and organizes their full color system (WPC's own colors, Fallingwater's, and the Pittsburgh Redbud Project's) so nothing gets mixed up across their different properties. It even codifies something specific to who they are: a "nature-first authenticity" rule that keeps AI-fabricated details and altered plant colors out of their photography, because ecological accuracy actually matters to their mission.

WPC uses the guide to handle smaller print publications in-house; we still partner with them on their biggest pieces. The guide exists so their internal team can make consistent, on-brand decisions without needing us to be involved in every choice, and we're still very much part of the relationship for the work that matters most.

Growing Into It

We built Neighborhood North's website years ago, closely following a brand manual they already had in place, and managed the site directly for them at first, with the understanding that we'd eventually be phased out by staff as their organization grew. As they flourished, we shifted into providing training: video guides, hands-on sessions, and working alongside them on ongoing WordPress updates to make sure changes held up for SEO and mobile. Our monthly check-ins became less frequent over time as they took on more of the day-to-day themselves, and along the way we tested a few different ticketing systems together before they landed on Roller. They've since taken their hosting in-house as well -- all according to plan. Not every client's story ends that way, but many organizations want to do more on their own.

Why This Matters More for Lean Organizations

If you're a nonprofit or small organization, every dollar and hour has to count. The vendors you bring in needs to build your team up, not just do the work for you. You need a partner who trains your team, builds systems your team can run, and provides time- and money-saving strategies, all while staying close enough to bring real expertise when it counts.

Where We Come In

If you're trying to figure out whether your current setup is building your team's capability or just keeping you dependent, that's exactly the kind of conversation we like to have. We offer a free consult to look at where things stand and what would actually make your team stronger. Reach out today!

In-House Vs. External Agency: Which Is the Best for My Business?

Is it better to train your staff to be at the forefront of the design, media, and marketing industry? What if they move on afterward? Is hiring an external design agency the best fit for my brand, or will it waste precious time as they "learn" your brand voice? You may have lots of questions if you have ever needed to tackle a publication, launch a new campaign, or juggled your brand across social media and your website. This article will share the pros of using your in-house team vs an external agency and some tips on which is the best fit for your project.

External Agencies

You have built your business to be the best it can be at what you do. It makes sense that external agencies have been built that way, too! Design and marketing agencies specialize their teams to provide honed skills, talent, and experience in areas that small to medium businesses do not always have the time or capabilities to excel in. Since their day-to-day focus is on staying up to date with the latest trends and technologies, they are better able to deliver high-quality services without trial and error. Here are five pros of working with an external agency:

  1. Scalability: External agencies offer project-based scalability and flexibility that in-house hires can't. A large marketing campaign around a new service or event will take many hours of planning, setup, and monitoring, often beyond the capabilities of an in-house team. Partnering with an established agency can let you double your time and resources rather than hiring new talent yourself
  1. Experience: An external agency's team will include staff with experience in multiple aspects of a project, launch, branding campaign, or multimedia marketing plan. This allows for successful plans to be developed and tracked with an eye toward the metrics that define a project's success, rather than having to learn as you go.
  1. Vendor Partnerships: No one wants to be disappointed with a new vendor's performance. Agencies have long-standing relationships with vetted vendors such as printers, ad placement platforms, software-sourcing, and other business needs. This allows them to skip the search and get right into the production!
  1. Whole-brand oversight: Keeping your brand strong across all aspects of your business can feel like a full-time job. For a moderately sized business, your creative or content team might be in different locations with varying views on how to apply the brand. If your digital brand is falling flat or your sales materials are suffering, it might be because your brand is being segmented across your team. An agency with experience in branding cohesion (link to us) might be a helpful partner to keep things together.
  1. A Fresh View: Sometimes tradition can get in the way of progress. A fresh, external viewpoint can enable open thinking about current best practices and the latest tech. Partnering with an external agency provides a clear view of processes and procedures that can benefit your strategy in the long term.

So, what types of projects can most benefit from using an agency? According to Statista, 50% of SMBs have an internal person or team to assist with design, media, or marketing, but 80% of SMBs have outsourced a project or campaign. Not surprisingly, there is some overlap between the two depending on the organization's needs. If a project involves marketing, SEO, ad placements, or digital design, it might be beneficial to consult an external agency specializing in these areas. If your internal team is robust and ready to learn, it might be better to help them acquire the skills needed for long-term improvement.

In-House Teams

Many organizations and businesses have in-house individuals or teams to handle branding, media, social marketing, or digital content. They may find new technology or training to be better tools for their in-house talent on long-term projects and repetitive project needs. If your business has the luxury of a large, well-functioning team of talent, it makes sense to elevate their skills and abilities through education opportunities and software to help them be the best at what they do. Here are five benefits to training and using your in-house team:

  1. Business-wide skill building: With training, new skills can be acquired and become long-term assets to the business. Your team can apply their skills to other areas of your organization and even share their new skills with incoming staff.
  1. Quick turnaround: Reviewing materials and managing projects can be challenging when working with multiple external agencies. With an in-house team, approval loops can be almost instantaneous.
  1. Evergreen Talent without the Turnover: Leveling up your communications or creative team with targeted training allows your workforce to be an investment in new skills and knowledge.
  1. Interact with your customer base: An in-house team can respond quickly to reviews, industry trends, or PR concerns. In-house content marketing on social media or in blog posts can allow for immediate messaging shifts or customer communications.
  1. Keeping it Small: Training new skills to in-house personnel allows for a smaller, more bespoke scale for your projects. Skills can be acquired as needed, and if you have a solid, stable team, training will be a long-term investment.

Is There Some Way to Have it All? Yes! Sometimes, having the ability to scale your internal team is essential. And sometimes, investing in training for your internal communications or creative team is better for your project. An agency like Twothirty Media can help you take advantage of both! We can help train the people you have on staff to apply their existing skills and new knowledge to be long-term assets to your organization as a whole. And sometimes you may need the support of a larger agency to fill in the gaps and expand on your in-house talent and experience to make a more successful campaign or project. Reach out today, and we can show you how we can partner with you for success.

5 Things You Can Do to Make Your Website Work for You

Recently, we have been sharing tips about optimizing your business listings, keeping your web presence fresh with social media content, and ensuring your advertising sends leads to landing pages that convert. This month, we want to talk about your main website.

A branded website is arguably more essential to a business’s success than business cards, a sign, or a logo. There are very few businesses that can build on their success without a proper website. But what does an organization that has invested time and money into a digital home for their brand do to keep it working for them? Businesses have several options, including both in-house and utilizing dedicated website management teams to help them elevate their website and turn it into a valuable sales tool for years to come.

Common Business Website Types:

The typical business website falls into one of these basic categories:

Informational Websites

These are websites that provide visitors with information about an organization, destination, or business. Commonly, these are the websites you may find for libraries, historical landmarks, museums, car detailers, and hospitals.

eCommerce Websites

These are websites that sell a product, service, or experience directly on the site, such as an online retailer with a shop.

Service Scheduling Websites

These are sometimes a type of eCommerce website, and they allow visitors to schedule a product or service. Commonly, these are hair salons, dental offices, equipment rental places, or experience booking websites.

Of course, it is not uncommon for a website to have two of these features. A historic landmark’s website might have a gift shop page, for example, or you may be able to book tickets on the site.

For this article, we will frame our recommendations based on the site’s predominant use. So, in our historic landmark example, the main purpose of the site might be to share visitation information about the destination, while its secondary function might be to list tours or to operate an online gift shop.

Putting Your Website to Work!

For a website to truly elevate your business and help you convert more online leads into real customers, it needs to be optimized, responsive, engaging, and offer a great user experience. The customer path, from first opening your web page to doing whatever you want the potential customer to do (often called a conversion), needs to be clear and simple. It is not uncommon for websites of nonprofits, destinations, or arts organizations to be built in a slightly more storytelling style. The websites are built to inform and engage, telling a story about the organization without a clear call to action for what it is you would like your visitors to do. Websites that seek conversions need to have very simple customer journey paths from website visitors to closed leads.

There are easy in-house steps you can take to improve any website, but a full website overview with a tech stack audit and customer journey mapping can make the difference between a website that works for you and one that merely exists as a digital business card. Branding, content marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO) are all part of a website that earns its keep, so to speak. Partnering with an experienced front- and back-end development company that treats your website holistically can ensure your hosting, domain, and support costs are worth it.

At Twothirty Media, we take the time to learn the ins and outs and details of your business. We help you build an ideal customer profile and recommend changes on how to most efficiently help them find your business and convert them into leads. In the meantime, here are five simple things you can do right now to improve any website:

Five Simple Things You Can Do to Improve Any Website

1.) Make Sure You Have A Clear Call-To-Action (CTA) For Visitors

    What do you want your visitors to do? What is your conversion? To call your office, book a trip, or buy a product? It needs to be clear what visitors need to do immediately, and often!

    2.) Keep It Simple

      Don’t bury your conversion. E-commerce websites should not overwhelm visitors with information and then hide the checkout. Of course, if there are things they need to know about your organization, let them shine, but don’t let them overshadow your visitors’ ability to follow your CTA. There should never be more than three clicks between a visitor’s first click onto your site and the purchase, contact form, or call button.

      3.) Use All The Functions Of Your Website

      You might not consider a muffler shop a good candidate for a blog, but keeping content fresh is a big part of helping customers find you online, especially in the age of AI search engines or AI-led SEO.

      4.) Show Your Visitors What Makes You Unique

      This is true for all branding, but especially when you are trying to grab a web visitor’s attention immediately. What quality makes your business or organization stand out? Don’t hide that information. Make it a key part of the busiest pages on your site. Which brings me to the next point:

      5.) Use Your Tools

      There are many free tools webmasters use to track how many people are visiting, where they are visiting from, and which pages and content are most popular, including Meta Pixels, Google Tag Manager and Analytics, and Microsoft Clarity. Google Analytics is still largely considered the industry standard. Make sure your site has this, and consider each of these tools when planning your site. 

      Even the most straightforward steps can seem daunting if your website is older or if you do not have a dedicated member of your team to manage your website. Partnering with an agency that not only understands branding and content that converts, but also all the moving parts of your website’s back-end development, can be the biggest piece in making a website pay for itself. Contact us today to learn how we can ensure your site is working for you.

      Case Study: PA Sports' "20 Reasons Why" Campaign

      PA Sports is a consortium of the state’s leading sports tourism organizations, with a collective of 14 member destinations representing communities across Pennsylvania. Their core mission is to attract and host sporting events at international, national, regional, and local levels. PA Sports member organizations include regional visitor bureaus, sports commissions, and event and tourism authorities. They operate as support partners for event planners, offering a diverse range of indoor and outdoor venues that prioritize accessibility, affordability, and an overall enjoyable experience for both participants and spectators.

      PA Sports leverages its network of member destinations to offer a wide range of capabilities across the state. These regional partners bring a wealth of host venues to the table—everything from the versatile Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg, which offers over one million square feet of event space, to specialized facilities such as the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Butler County or the York Expo Center. Through a coordinated approach, PA Sports promotes Pennsylvania as a premier sports-event destination—fostering economic development, enriching community life, and showcasing the Keystone State as a dynamic place to “visit, live, work, and play”.

      A ROBUST BRAND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

      In 2024, PA Sports celebrated their 20th anniversary, and they wanted to celebrate. Partnering with Twothirty Media, they decided to create a social media campaign to celebrate the achievements of PA Sports members, while also increasing awareness in the sports events tourism industry of the types of events hosted in Pennsylvania.

      In an effort to reach new potential clients and increase their visibility nationally, PA Sports partnered with Twothirty Media to create a Facebook campaign highlighting “20 reasons why PA is the best place to host a sporting event” to help celebrate the 20 years that PA Sports has been supporting, hosting, and promoting sports events in the Commonwealth.

      CAMPAIGN OVERVIEW

      The campaign included regularly scheduled Facebook page posts highlighting each of the 20 reasons with graphics and hashtag terms sourced for content and engagement. This content campaign resulted in:

      In addition, a paid ad campaign comprised of six ad sets was developed to target users who mirrored the attendees of six tourism industry shows. They were developed with appealing and creative messaging that adjusted dynamically depending on Meta’s targeting data demographics of each user. The ad sets ran for 30 days each, surrounding the time of each event. The industry shows included in this effort were Sports Express, Connect Spring Marketplace, Sports ETA Symposium, and the Esports Travel Summit. The paid ads campaign resulted in:

      The increased brand visibility on Meta has had lingering benefits for the PA Sports team members. Bold moves, such as establishing a strong brand presence online and specifically targeting industry networking events, have helped position Pennsylvania as a whole to be one of the leading destinations for sports events in 2026.

      Partnering with Twothirty Media to build and implement custom, well-developed media campaigns can help leverage social interactions to elevate your digital brand presence. Contact us today to discover how we can harness the power of social media platforms for you!

      Case Study: How We Reignited Foot Traffic at a Pittsburgh Sports Bar

      When our client’s North Shore sports bar opened its doors in Pittsburgh, it had a strong launch. However, as is common in hospitality, the post-launch momentum began to fade. That’s when they came to us looking for results. They wanted the place full again.

      They needed locals who cared about sports, social energy, and a great place to watch the game. And they needed a campaign that could both feel like Pittsburgh and deliver measurable foot traffic.

      The Challenge: Bring the Crowd Back

      Our client’s national sports bar chain had seen mixed success in other cities. Some openings thrived. Others, not so much. They struggled to understand why some locations saw results and some did not. They had not implemented a uniform procedure for the launches, but often used trial and error at each location.

      Their Pittsburgh location had enjoyed a successful launch, largely due to a robust content and buzz-generating package we provided, which helped them make a big splash on the North Shore scene. Sports bars are common in the Pittsburgh area, so careful content marketing, media packages, exclusive prelaunch events, and PR appearances helped our client stand out from the crowd for their opening.

      As time goes on, it is common for the grand opening buzz to fade for a restaurant, bar, or venue. When the initial customer surge began to ebb for their other sports bar locations, our client often tried quick-fix events and small campaigns to boost visits. For their North Shore location, they wanted to do something differently.

      For Pittsburgh, they wanted control over a new campaign to improve foot traffic. They didn’t want to just put up social ads and hope for the best. They wanted to track what worked, know who showed up, and see whether digital could drive real-world results.

      Additionally, they requested email sign-ups to build their list, despite their system relying on a separate in-store signup process.

      The Strategy: Speak Pittsburgh, Track Everything

      It's no secret that Pittsburghers respond to anything related to their city. We designed a hyper-local digital campaign, one that combined high-impact placements with creative that actually resonated with the western Pennsylvania sports-loving crowd.

      And most importantly, we provided verifiable tracking on who saw the ads and who walked through the door.

      The Results: Visibility, Visits, and Verified Value

      The campaign ran for just a month, and it worked. The numbers are undeniable:

      This wasn’t a spray-and-pray campaign. It was tight, focused, and rooted in local intelligence.

      The Bigger Picture: Changing How They Launch

      Although the campaign paused mid-run for internal reasons, the impact had already taken hold. The Pittsburgh location performed better than other cities. The client noticed. They began adjusting how they handle new markets, even bringing in local agencies in other cities to mirror what we did here.

      What We Learned

      In local markets, success stems from understanding the language and closely monitoring the outcome. That’s what this campaign proved.

      Thinking about your next campaign?

      If you’re serious about reaching local audiences and driving actual results, we’d love to talk.

      Spring in Bloom: Capturing the Pittsburgh Redbud Project

      This spring, Twothirty Media partnered with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for the Pittsburgh Redbud Project. The Pittsburgh Redbud Project is an ongoing community greening project that launched in 2016, aiming to restore native tree cover and enhance the beauty of Pittsburgh’s riverfronts and trails.

      As volunteer professional photographers, we captured images from iconic city vantage points, showcasing the transformation of the urban landscape with thousands of Eastern redbud trees and other native species. Our images help document the progression of this project as it nears its 10-year anniversary.

      Featured Locations and Photo Highlights:

      1. The North Shore

      Redbuds frame views of Heinz Field, the Carnegie Science Center, and the riverwalk. Our photos highlight these pink blossoms, softening the skyline and creating new spots for springtime walks.

      2. Three Rivers Heritage Trail

      Along both the North and South Shores, redbuds line the trail with vibrant bursts of color. From the 10th Street Bypass to the Water Steps, and down River Avenue, the views feel fresh and alive.

      3. Mount Washington

      From above, the city’s riverbanks now carry a flush of magenta each April. We photographed the trees winding along Grandview Park with views of the city in soft focus.

      4. Downtown & Point State Park

      In this area, the trees enhance Pittsburgh’s skyline and historic parks. From Liberty Avenue Park to Point State Park, redbuds provide a striking contrast to the steel and stone structures.

      Why It Matters

      The Pittsburgh Redbud Project has planted nearly 4,000 trees and replaced invasive species with native perennials. This effort not only beautifies Pittsburgh but also enhances its air quality, water resources, and biodiversity. On a clear morning, the air is filled with the sounds of busy pollinators and bird species. The beautification of the area is undeniable, with these greenspaces becoming favorite places to enjoy for Pittsburghers and visitors alike.

      Want to see it for yourself? Each April, the Redbud bloom transforms Pittsburgh’s trails and riverfronts into something quietly spectacular. Don’t miss it.

      How to Protect Your Online Reputation

      Your online reputation is essentially the public perception of your business online. This includes everything from Google search results and customer reviews to social media mentions and news articles. Why does it matter? Because people do judge businesses by what they find online.

      In fact, the vast majority of consumers (about 95%) read online reviews before deciding where to spend their money, and 86% will steer clear of companies with lots of bad feedback. Your online reputation can literally make or break a potential customer’s trust. Business leaders recognize this risk too – over half of companies now rank reputational damage among their top five business risks. In short, a good online reputation isn’t just “nice to have,” it’s a critical business asset that directly impacts your bottom line.

      Reputation Management is an Ongoing Process, Not a One-Time Fix

      Managing your online reputation isn’t something you do just once and forget about. It’s an ongoing effort, much like marketing or advertising. New customer reviews, social media comments, and online mentions appear every day, so you need to continuously monitor and manage what’s being said. One study puts it plainly: reputation management is not a one-and-done thing – it’s an ongoing process.

      Think of it like staying physically fit: you can’t go to the gym once and expect lifelong strength. Similarly, protecting your reputation requires regular attention and adaptation. This mindset is crucial – when you approach reputation management as a continuous campaign, you’ll be better prepared to maintain a positive image over the long haul.

      7 Practical Strategies to Protect Your Online Reputation:

      To effectively safeguard and build your online reputation, consider these key strategies that you can start implementing right away:

      1. Monitor and Respond to Customer Reviews: Keep a close eye on what customers are saying about your business on major review platforms, especially Google Reviews (since Google is where 81% of shoppers check first) and any industry-specific sites (like Yelp, TripAdvisor, or niche review sites for your field).
      2. Respond promptly and professionally to reviews, both positive and negative. Thank customers for praise, and address complaints with empathy and a solution. This shows you care and are listening. It also pays off: 89% of consumers expect businesses to respond to their online reviews​. If you stay silent – particularly on public platforms – you risk losing trust. On social media, for example, 73% of users say they’ll buy from a competitor if a brand ignores them​. The lesson: make it a habit to engage with feedback and demonstrate that customer opinions matter to you.
      3. Keep Your Business Listings Accurate and Up-to-Date: Ensure that your business information (name, address, phone number, hours, website, etc.) is consistent and correct across all online directories and listings. This includes your Google Business Profile, local directories, and any place your business is mentioned online. Why is this important? Because inaccurate or outdated info will frustrate potential customers – 62% of consumers say they would avoid a business if they find incorrect information online​. Don’t let a wrong phone number or old address send customers to a competitor. Regularly check and update your listings so that anyone searching for you finds reliable information. This also helps maintain trust and makes your business look professional and well-managed.
      4. Ask Satisfied Customers for Reviews: One of the best ways to build a strong online reputation is to actively gather positive reviews from happy customers. Many people won’t think to leave a review on their own, but if you give them a polite prompt or easy opportunity, they often will. In fact, studies show that if asked directly, about 7 in 10 consumers will write a review for a business. So don’t be shy about kindly requesting reviews – for example, send a follow-up email thanking the customer for their purchase and gently invite them to share feedback online. Over time, a steady flow of genuine positive reviews will bolster your overall rating and act as a buffer against the occasional negative review. (Just remember to never offer incentives for reviews, which is against most sites’ policies – keep it honest and organic.)
      5. Provide Excellent and Timely Online Customer Service: These days, customer service often plays out in public – whether it’s answering questions on your Facebook page, handling complaints in a Yelp review, or responding to a tweet. Make responsiveness a priority. Customers expect quick, helpful replies when they reach out online. And if you drop the ball, everyone can see it. Consider that 73% of social media users say they’ll switch to a competitor if a business doesn’t respond to their messages or comments​. To avoid that fate, treat your online interactions with customers as seriously as in-person encounters. Respond to inquiries or issues as promptly as possible (aim for within 24 hours or even faster if you can). Be polite, professional, and solution-oriented. By solving problems quickly and thanking customers for reaching out, you not only resolve individual issues but also signal to everyone watching that your company truly cares about its clientele.
      6. Build Credibility with a Professional Web Presence, Clear Values, and Testimonials: First impressions matter online. Very often, a potential customer’s first stop is your website or social media profile. Ensure your website looks professional, up-to-date, and easy to navigate, because people do judge a book by its cover here – about 75% of consumers admit they judge a company’s credibility based on its website design​. A clean, modern website with clear information and branding helps instill confidence. Similarly, communicate your company’s values and mission clearly (for example, an “About Us” page that shares your story and what you stand for). Showcasing customer testimonials and case studies is another powerful credibility booster. Seeing real success stories or positive experiences can sway prospects in your favor – 72% of consumers say that positive testimonials and reviews increase their trust in a business​. In short, polish your online presence to reflect the quality and values of your business. Consistency across your website, social media, and marketing materials will make your brand look trustworthy and professional, which is exactly the reputation you want.
      7. Engage in Community Involvement and Industry Networking: Your reputation isn’t only built online in reviews and posts – it’s also influenced by how you engage with the real-world community and your industry peers. Getting involved in local events, charitable causes, or industry associations can generate goodwill that eventually finds its way online. For example, sponsoring a neighborhood cleanup or participating in a charity drive might lead to local news coverage or shout-outs on social media. Prospective customers often appreciate businesses that give back or are active in their community. In fact, roughly 73% of Americans consider a company's charitable work when making purchase decisions​. So, by doing good, you’re not only helping others but also building a reservoir of positive sentiment for your brand. Similarly, networking within your industry (such as attending trade events or contributing to professional forums) can establish you as a respected player in your field. Over time, these community and industry engagements enhance your reputation by showing that your business is about more than just profit – it’s about principles, relationships, and contributing to the greater good.

      Getting Expert Help When You Need It

      As you can see, protecting your online reputation involves many moving parts – from constant monitoring to content creation to customer engagement. The truth is, business owners can do a lot of this themselves, especially with dedication and the right tools. However, it can be complex and time-consuming to manage consistently. Running a business already takes enormous effort; not everyone has the hours or expertise to track every review, post, and listing across the web. That’s where it’s worth considering some help from professionals. Working with online reputation management experts can make a real difference. Whether you opt for a bit of training to get you or your staff up to speed, ongoing support to lighten your load, or fully outsourcing the process, experts can help ensure that nothing falls through the cracks. They bring experience, specialized software, and strategic know-how to protect and enhance your reputation efficiently.

      Remember: managing your reputation is an investment in your business’s long-term success. You don’t have to do it all alone. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or just want to strengthen your reputation proactively, consider reaching out for professional guidance. A quick consultation with a Pittsburgh reputation management specialist can clarify the best next steps for your situation. By taking action and, if needed, partnering with experts, you’ll be safeguarding one of your company’s most valuable assets – its good name – and setting yourself up for continued trust and success with your customers. Your reputation is worth it. So take control, stay engaged, and don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you need a hand protecting what you’ve worked so hard to build.​

      Why Are Listings Important for Your Business?

      When you have a localized business, you need the right tools to make sure you don’t miss any potential customers who may be searching for your services. You might find a good location, put up an eye-catching sign, and make sure your website is easily found. Maybe you even do a little local advertising to get the word out – but you may be missing an important and often-overlooked component! You need to make sure your online presence is highly visible so you can compete with much larger national organizations. The key to keeping your business visible to your customers is meeting potential clients where they already are looking for you. That means exposing online listings with your brand!

      An online listing is a digital profile that provides essential details about the business, including its name, address, phone number (NAP), website, hours of operation, and often customer reviews. These listings appear on platforms such as Google My Business (now Google Business Profile), Yelp, Bing Places, and local directories. They serve as a business’s virtual storefront, making sure you can be discovered in search engines, maps, and other digital channels.

      But There Is A Catch

      A business can be listed on dozens to hundreds of platforms online, depending on its industry, location, and target audience. Here’s a quick breakdown:

      General Listings and Directories:

      Industry-Specific Listings:

      Regional and Niche Directories

      You have to have control over these listings, and many more, to get your name on them. You also have to maintain control over your listings, because the nature of online listings is that they change over time. People can add erroneous information, phone numbers and addresses change, and if you don’t have a tool making sure that your information is accurate across all listings, you might end up with a bigger problem than not enough listings – incorrect listings. Checking, updating, and maintaining all the places your business can be listed online would become a very daunting task for a local business owner. So what do you do?

      The Right Tool For The Job

      It is unlikely that the average business owner designed their materials or fabricated and installed their own signage. They hired a specialist to do that for them, and listings are no different. You need an agency that can help you navigate the reviews and listings process, as well as the right software to manage your online listings and reviews.

      Managing online listings is crucial for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to enhance their digital presence and attract local customers. The right software and assistance can help you. Here are five key reasons why prioritizing your business listings are vital to success.

      Why Listings and Reviews Are So Important:

      1. Improve Search Engine Ranking: Consistent and accurate business info across online directories boosts your brand's credibility with search engines, which in turn helps to boost your ranking. Managing listings and reviews from a central dashboard can enhance your brand's SEO by guaranteeing uniformity and letting you keep an eye on it from one place.
      2. Increase Visibility to Potential Customers: 80% of US consumers search online for local businesses on a weekly basis, and 32% search for them daily. Maintaining accurate listings keeps your business appearing in relevant local searches, connecting you with high-intent local customers.
      3. Enhance Your Customer Trust: Incorrect or inconsistent information can erode brand trust and cost you customers. Many listing sites pull their data without verifying it. Or even worse, their listings are user-submitted. A competitor, forgetful customer, or random internet user could add an incorrect address or phone number. Correct listings prevent customer confusion, so you need a way to monitor those inaccuracies.
      4. Effectively Manage Your Reputation: Good reviews are worth their weight in gold. 95% of people read online reviews before making a purchase. If you keep a watchful eye on your online listings you can monitor and respond to customer reviews. This helps to preserve a positive reputation and avoid a bad one. Google's recent initiatives to crack down on fake reviews highlight the importance of active reputation management.
      5. Adapt to AI-Driven Search Experiences: As search evolves with AI, having comprehensive listings keeps your business discoverable across new search platforms and tools. Staying ahead in the evolving search landscape is crucial for maintaining visibility over bigger competitors.
      6. Real-Time Updates: Modern listings management tools allow businesses to update details quickly, ensuring accuracy during unexpected changes like holiday hours or relocations. This is especially helpful for customers who use their phone to look up a service. “Near Me” Queries Have Grown by Over 200% Since 2021, with over 60% of all searches on mobile devices.

      By using the right tools to effectively manage your online listings, you can improve search visibility, build a trustworthy online presence, and attract more customers.

      What To Look For

      We shared why listings and reviews are so important to a business and why using an agency that specializes in listing and review management is so important. The right group will take the time to know who you are and what you do and can help guide you through the process.

      Twothirty Media is no stranger to helping local businesses and organizations get seen. We can help optimize your business information across Google and set up the right tools and software to help you take control of your customer reviews and listing information. Compared to running an ad or renting a billboard, solid listings can build SEO and direct long-term customer traffic without trying to guess what social media platform or app your customers might be on. Contact us today to learn more about our simplified listings and review packages.

      How Long Does It Take To Design A Logo?

      Designing a logo is one of the most crucial steps in establishing a brand identity, often handled by a branding agency or graphic design team. Think of a logo as the "face" of your business. You want your logo to convey the personality, core facets, and identity in a single visual element. If you’re starting this process, it’s important to know how long logo design usually takes to ensure your brand gets the strong identity it deserves.

      Unfortunately this article will not end in a summary of how long you should expect to wait for a logo from your designer. The answer isn't straightforward like that. It can depend on various factors. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at each of these factors to give you a clearer understanding of what to expect when embarking on logo design.

      Understanding the Logo Design Process

      Before diving into timelines, it is essential to understand the actual logo design process. This process typically consists of several key stages:

      Research and Discovery: During the initial stage, the designer gathers information about your brand, target audience, competitors, and industry trends.At Twothirty Media, we frequently utilize mood boards and other collaborative creative exercises to better understand your needs. To ensure everyone is aligned, we then create a written creative brief that can be referenced throughout the project by all parties involved. A thorough exploration of the brand's mission, values, and identity serves as a strong foundation. Designers may conduct interviews or surveys to gain better insight into your vision and requirements.

      Concept Development: After gathering insights from the brief, designers brainstorm ideas and create rough sketches or digital drafts. An experienced branding designer will push their concepts as far as they can go while still fitting the brief. This early stage is crucial for exploring different directions, and afterward, multiple design concepts are presented to the client.

      Design Refinement: Once initial concepts are developed, designers will refine their ideas based on client feedback. This may involve adjustments to colors, fonts, shapes, or layouts until the design aligns with your brand.

      Finalization: After several rounds of revisions and discussions with the client, the final logo is created in formats best suited for print and digital use.

      Delivery: The final step involves delivering the logo and all its necessary files to the client, along with guidelines for using the logo effectively across different platforms. The guideline might take the form of a logo one-sheet, a visual brand guide, or a full brand manual.

      Factors Influencing Logo Design Time

      As we mentioned above, several factors can influence the time each of those stages takes. Designers are usually able to give a rough idea of what kind of time their role will take. However, keep in mind that a client's needs to review and discuss the concepts, logo drafts, and branding materials will also take time.

      1. Complexity of Design

      The complexity of your desired logo plays a significant role in determining how long it will take to create it. A simple text-based logo may take just a few revisions to finalize since it requires minimal elements and fewer feedback loops compared to an intricate brand mark that incorporates multiple graphics or illustrations.

      2. Designer's Experience

      An experienced branding designer may be more efficient than someone less familiar with logo work. They have likely encountered various challenges before and know how to navigate them quickly while still producing high-quality work.

      3. Client Feedback Loop

      The speed at which you provide feedback can significantly impact how long it takes to finalize your logo design. If you respond promptly with clear direction after each round of revisions, you can expedite the process considerably compared to situations where feedback is delayed or vague. If a client has many stakeholders who are all providing input at their own speeds, this can also complicate the process.

      4. Number of Revisions

      Most designers include a set number of revisions in their contracts; however, additional changes can extend the timeline significantly. If you find yourself wanting multiple iterations after each round of feedback or if new ideas arise during discussions with stakeholders, this could add days or even weeks onto your project timeline. This is why a tight and preplanned feedback loop is so important!

      Conclusion

      In summary, designing a logo can several weeks or more, depending on various factors such as the complexity required, designer experience, responsiveness during feedback loops, revision requests made throughout development stages, and the use of collaboration tools throughout this creative journey!

      Investing time upfront into research & discovery will ultimately yield better results down the line, leading towards creating an impactful visual identity that resonates well within target markets whilst standing out amongst competitors! So whether you're launching an entirely new venture or rebranding an existing business, understanding these nuances will help set realistic expectations regarding timelines involved when embarking upon this exciting creative endeavor!

      What Is the Difference Between Technical SEO and Content SEO?

      Both technical search engine optimization (SEO) and content SEO are critical to how well your website performs online. However, it's essential to understand the difference. Doing so enables you to customize your SEO strategy to ensure your website ranks in the search engines above your competitors.

      The difference between technical SEO and content SEO centers around what types of things they are focusing on. Technical improvement of your page ranking features includes improving internal link structure, creating structured data, and improving how fast your pages load. Content SEO focuses on improving keywords through a developed strategy that helps you compete with competitors through your written on-page content. Let’s look at each of these strategies more in-depth.

      What Is Technical SEO?

      Technical SEO involves back-end optimizations made to a website to improve functionality and search engine navigation. Examples include improving page load speed, fixing broken links, and ensuring images load correctly.

      Technical SEO includes:

      What Is Content SEO?

      Content SEO focuses on creating keyword-targeted content for your website, which explicitly drives targeted searchers to your content when they seek information on what you offer. Content must be published consistently to remain competitive and increase your rankings using new keywords.

      Both forms of SEO are critical to building a robust, high-ranking website that drives targeted traffic to your website. When you work with our multimedia agency, you'll get help with these areas as needed to improve your content.

      Content SEO will include on-page keyword optimization strategies such as:

      In addition to this, content SEO also includes:

      The content you produce for your website must be high in quality, specific based on searcher intent, and designed to integrate highly targeted keywords seamlessly. The goal is not just to get traffic but also to get people to your website who will take the desired action. Google knows how long people spend on your website and how often they come back, and it extracts insights on this kind of data to determine how valuable people find your site. Ideally, you will develop a plethora of good content around the keywords you want to appear for.

      SEO Tools

      If you want to use these tips to improve your SEO but still need to figure out where to start, let me give you a tip: most experts don't just go it alone. They have tools to help develop an SEO campaign, tools that help them determine low-competition search terms they could write content for and help them identify the problems with their technical SEO, and tools that help them produce off-site SEO, such as backlinks.

      Building a Strong Technical and Content SEO Strategy

      Technical SEO and content SEO work together to help your website show the search engines its value to your targeted audience. Investing in the right tools and a technical and content SEO campaign is the only way to measurably incorporate the practices of both of these areas into your website development and ongoing management. You don't want to fall blind when creating content that resonates with your readers. You want to rank for important keywords in the search engines precisely.

      Reach out to Twothirty Media today to learn more about our SEO services in Pittsburgh, which can help you craft an SEO strategy that delivers the very best technical SEO and content for your visitors. We can either execute that plan ourselves on your behalf or help you run it using our tools and a few training sessions. Contact us today!