How inbound marketing really works - Ern Berck Digital
How are you going to get noticed with inbound marketing? You probably won’t. Not unless you start the process with outbound marketing.| Ern Berck Digital
How are you going to get noticed with inbound marketing? You probably won’t. Not unless you start the process with outbound marketing.| Ern Berck Digital
From the early days of social media, “engagement” has always been promoted as one of its most valuable and defining features. But does engagement really matter?| Ern Berck Digital
To build an effective online presence, you first need to recognize and define six elements that work together to meet your business goals.| Ern Berck Digital
Most of what you need to know about how we approach web design at our Chico, California studio. Costs, copywriting, web hosting, and do-it-yourself design.| Ern Berck Digital
We’re passionate about web design, so if you’ve got a question, get in touch. It’s never too soon. There’s never a bad time. Ask us anything.| Ern Berck Digital
Is it really free if I have to give my email address? Nope. Not Free According to Donald Miller, the marketing pundit behind the trendy StoryBrand framework, a customer email address is worth $10–$15. So, the next time he asks for yours, charge him $20. Sources Source| Ern Berck Digital
What the hell is Hobson’s Choice? Ask Google. What is Hobson’s Choice? Hobson’s Choice refers to a scenario where the illusion of choice is presented, but there is actually only one viable option. Take that, or none. The term originates with Thomas Hobson (1544–1631), an English stable owner who hired out horses. He gave his […] Source| Ern Berck Digital
Ever wonder why they call it artificial intelligence? Me too. The Constitutional Convention of AI The term artificial intelligence was coined by mathematics professor John McCarthy in 1956. He introduced it during the Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence, a workshop that is considered the founding event of AI as a field. Sort of […] Source| Ern Berck Digital
“80% of the experts selling SEO services are scammers.” At least. Did SEO experts ruin the internet? Probably. At least a lot of well-respected people in the search engine optimization (SEO) industry seem to think so — including Peter Kent, the best-selling author of SEO for Dummies. For years, he’s been telling people that part […] Source| Ern Berck Digital
Will I go to jail if my website isn’t accessible? Unlikely. But you could wind up in court We’re not aware of anyone being imprisoned for having an inaccessible website. But you could get sued and suffer a stiff financial penalty. What is web accessibility? Over a billion people in the world (15%) experience some […] Source| Ern Berck Digital
What’s the difference between AI agents and AI assistants? Autonomy. TL;DR Artificial intelligence (AI) agents and assistants are both helpful little applications that can interact with users and perform complex tasks. AI agents are more autonomous and goal-oriented than assistants, often working in the background without direct user involvement. AI assistants, on the other hand, […] Source| Ern Berck Digital
Who the hell is Ern Berck? A blacksmith. Making stuff with fire and iron Ern Berck is the blacksmith at an anonymous town shown in the opening scenes of the 1960 film The Magnificent Seven. You never see him, he never speaks. But somehow you know he’s there — with fire and iron — making […] Source| Ern Berck Digital
Couldn’t I build a website myself? Sure. You could build your own refrigerator too. I double dog dare you Just kidding. Fortunately, there are dozens of “page-building” tools available to help you create a great website on your own. But like a lot of projects, sometimes it’s not a matter of “can you,” but more […] Source| Ern Berck Digital
Websites built by humans in Chico, California. Do you know who or what built your website? Or where? You may not know it, but a lot of marketing agencies outsource most of their web design work to cheap overseas freelancers. That’s okay, I guess. But when you hire someone to build a website, we think […] Source| Ern Berck Digital
Why do we think better in the shower? DMN Our brains love showers The phenomenon of feeling more creative or having clearer thoughts in the shower is tied to a combination of psychological, physiological, and environmental factors. This can happen for a few reasons. Default mode network activation When you’re doing something relatively automatic and […] Source| Ern Berck Digital
It’s 2025. You can stop wasting time on newsletters, webinars, funnels, secret circles, storytelling, and Google. Happy New Year 2024 was weird. Seriously, 2024 was a troubling year on a lot of fronts. However, on a more positive note, some of the upheaval has relieved you of the burden of worrying about many popular marketing […] Source| Ern Berck Digital
It came without ribbons!It came without tags!It came without packages, boxes or bags! Merry Christmas How could it be so? And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,stood puzzling and puzzling: How could it be so? It came without ribbons! It came without tags!It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled […] Source| Ern Berck Digital
Do I really need personas, storytelling, mood boards, journey mapping, or brand archetypes? Nope. Just say no When searching for a web designer, you’ll likely encounter a baffling array of packages, plans, processes, and magic products. These “special” services are easy to spot — their titles typically feature buzzwords like blueprint, playbook, workshop, or roadmap. […] Source| Ern Berck Digital
Has AI adoption slowed? Yes. To a crawl. Use of AI among U.S. workers stalls Despite ongoing enthusiasm from tech-happy management, the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) by U.S. workers has slowed to a crawl. The latest Slack Workforce Index reveals that AI adoption rates among American employees have effectively stalled over the past three […] Source| Ern Berck Digital
If you’re a good enough web designer to charge for your work, then why would you run ads to give away websites for free? You wouldn’t. Are free websites really free? Unlikely. Any web designer or marketing agency that’s paying for ads to give away free websites is probably working some sort of angle that’s […] Source| Ern Berck Digital
What the hell is GEO? Don’t ask. GEO is the new SEO. GEO stands for generative engine optimization. It’s the shiny new thing that the search engine optimization (SEO) industry will be trying to sell you in 2025. What does it do? GEO claims to optimize website content for generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, […] Source| Ern Berck Digital
Is messaging more important than design? Wrong question. Beware of amateurs. If your web designer claims that messaging is more important than design, they’re either confused or inexperienced. How so? Design isn’t just about how something looks. As Steve Jobs put it: “Design is how it works.” When it comes to websites, that includes architecture, […] Source| Ern Berck Digital
“What is soul-infused website design?” Hmm. We were stumped. We’ll admit it — we had no idea what this was. As dedicated professionals, we try to stay informed about the latest web design breakthroughs, but we clearly missed this one. So, we asked ChatGPT. Here’s what she came up with: “Rather than focusing purely on […] Source| Ern Berck Digital
“What’s the difference between a designer and an artist?” Purpose. First off, we’re designers, not artists. Design isn’t self-expression, it’s thoughtful discipline. Designers make things that solve problems within a set of constraints. Sure, we get “creative” when we build stuff, but unlike artists, we work to solve real problems — not to present our […] Source| Ern Berck Digital
Like any new technology, AI marketing tools involve opportunity and risk. But when marketing gurus are pitching you the glamour of AI, they rarely mention risk.| Ern Berck Digital
A friendly, affordable web design studio in Chico, California. We design and build custom high-performance websites for small to midsize service businesses.| Ern Berck Digital
Not quite ready for a new website or comprehensive support plan? If you’re just looking for some social media marketing guidance, maybe we can help.| Ern Berck Digital
Our simple 3-step web design system shortens the whole development timeline by weeks — Saving you time, money, and frustration.| Ern Berck Digital
Most small businesses don’t have the resources or desire to maintain their websites. No problem. We can manage your website for you.| Ern Berck Digital
You may not know it, but a lot of marketing agencies outsource most of their website design and development work to inexpensive overseas freelancers.| Ern Berck Digital
Despite all the hype about Facebook ads and YouTube videos, there’s still no better way to connect with your customers than through email marketing.| Ern Berck Digital
Seven key areas that you can focus on to help your website function at the highest level. It’s not complicated or expensive, plus you can get started today.| Ern Berck Digital
Are logos really that important? A lot of experts don’t think so. So, before you spend a dime on discovery sessions, personas, or mood boards, read this article.| Ern Berck Digital
Search engine optimization is an overhyped collection of methodologies for improving the search rankings of websites. In other words, trying to game Google.| Ern Berck Digital
A Facebook business page is a good way to reach an audience, but it won’t do enough to build a profitable brand. To do that, you’ll need a dedicated website.| Ern Berck Digital
A simple digital framework that will help increase awareness, create interest, and provide a clear and easy-to-use path for supporters to connect and learn.| Ern Berck Digital
We design, build, and manage websites for small to medium-sized businesses. We specialize in creating visual interfaces that are both useful and easy to use.| Ern Berck Digital
We design and build simple but powerful websites for small businesses. We also write content, find compelling images, and provide long-term website management.| Ern Berck Digital
Also called PWAs, progressive web applications may offer an enticing solution for small business owners looking to elevate their digital marketing platforms.| Ern Berck Digital
A website maintenance plan (or support plan) is a structured approach to managing and updating a website to ensure it remains functional, secure, and up-to-date.| Ern Berck Digital
Marketing automation works by using technology, software platforms, and predefined rules to simplify, automate and manage various marketing tasks and processes.| Ern Berck Digital
Social media employee advocacy is a powerful strategy that encourages employees to actively promote their company on personal social media accounts.| Ern Berck Digital
Bus factor is a little-known term used mostly in the software industry. But if you work with digital marketing agencies, the concept is worth exploring.| Ern Berck Digital
Is your business website accessible to everyone? Even to those with disabilities? Learn how to make your website a better experience for all of your visitors.| Ern Berck Digital
Is good content still the holy grail of online marketing? If so, what are its benefits and drawbacks? How can you make your content work harder and last longer?| Ern Berck Digital
An exploration of the most common website design mistakes you’re likely to come across on the web. Includes sections on typography, layout, images, and more.| Ern Berck Digital
Every small business should not only have an SEO strategy to improve non-branded search rankings, but also a marketing strategy to help grow brand awareness.| Ern Berck Digital
Dark social refers to content that gets shared through private channels (email, texting, messaging, etc) that can’t be easily tracked by web analytics software.| Ern Berck Digital
There are over a billion websites on the internet, so it’s critical that you promote your own site at every opportunity. Learn how with these 15 simple tips.| Ern Berck Digital
Ever wonder why we tend to follow the crowd? Why do we often choose to do what others are doing, or buy products that other people have recommended? Why do we behave like sheep? The answer lies in…| Ern Berck Digital
