Customer Centric Marketing

The first order of business in marketing (and in sales) should be to create a relationship with your prospective customers. If you can create a connection with them that enables them to begin to trust you, then you are on the way to getting a new customer. Fundamentally, they must believe (trust) that your product or service will meet their needs.

One of the primary skills that good sales people use to develop a relationship with their customers is active listening. Active listening means that you actually feed back what you hear a prospect say so that both of your are certain that you have heard what they said. The act of repeating or summarizing what a prospect says to you is in itself a powerful nonverbal communication. You are telling them with your actions that you pay attention, that you hear and understand them and that you are able to focus on their needs instead of just your own. These are powerful messages to transmit to a prospect and they will typically reward you by giving you their business if you indeed have something they want or need.

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Market Testing & Validation

When we sit down to develop a new website for a client, our conversation always begins with the goals of the company. Nine times out of ten, those are marketing and sales goals – they want to generate more leads and get more customers. As a result, our first conversation revolves around the marketing message which of course is driven by who the target customer is. All too often, this becomes a guessing game. Many companies simply don’t know, unequivocally, who their target customer is and what their primary needs and primary concerns are. Here’s a simple exercise than you can do that will net great benefits in the areas of brand, marketing message and target market.

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6 Ways to Market Your Business on FaceBook

FaceBook recently surpassed Google in terms of the average amount of time people spend on the site. Marketing your business on FaceBook is already a great way to get exposure and it will become more and more essential over time. Here are some tips on getting started.

  1. Create a FaceBook Page. This is the first step and every business should have one. Fill out your Page profile completely and make sure to add a link back to your website (this will help with your SEO). Once you’ve created a page, you should make it more attractive by creating a custom tab that all new visitors will see. Creating a custom tab requires adding a FaceBook app that enables you to either insert custom text and graphics or link to another web page that you’ve created elsewhere. The latter option is the best way to go as it allows you to make any page on your existing website into a FaceBook tab on your FaceBook Page. Here’s a tutorial on how to accomplish this. (more…)

Why Have a Blog?

Clients regularly ask us whether they should have a blog or not. In general, my answer is yes, though there are some exceptions. Here’s why… (more…)

6 Tips to Successful Web Development Projects

I’ve seen research that shows that more than 50% of development projects fail. Given the number of projects we inherit from other web developers due to unhappy customers, I would say the figure is at least that high. This doesn’t apply to small websites such as a simple “brochure” site or a WordPress blog. However, when a project becomes more sizeable and has custom programming, it can easily fall apart before it’s done. In the last blog entry, I talked about the primary reasons this occurs. Here I’ll give some tips on how to avoid problems and have a successful outcome.

  1. Make an informed decision regarding the web developer you choose. In addition to reviewing their online portfolio, have them actually show you the back-end of some of the projects they’ve developed. Check their references. Don’t accept references only for clients they’ve worked with in the last year. See if you can talk to some clients they’ve had for several years. Better yet, get a mixture. (more…)

Why Web Development Projects Fail

A story I hear far too often from prospects is that they just fired their previous web developer. You might think I like hearing this because it means our competitors are falling down which is good for us. I actually hate hearing this story. For one, I feel bad for the person standing in front of me who just spent good money and now feels it was a partial or total loss. For another, when web developers leave unhappy customers in their wake, it makes our whole industry look bad. If we’re not careful, the general public perception of web developers will eventually rival that of used car salespeople.

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7 Tips to Create Emails That Get Opened, Read, and Clicked

At NDIC, we know email is one of the most effective ways to connect with your audience. But we also understand how crowded inboxes can be—and how easy it is for a good message to get overlooked. Many of our clients use platforms like Mailchimp or Constant Contact, and we help them get the most out of these tools by designing branded templates, creating engaging content, and setting up signup forms that actually grow their lists. That’s why we work closely with each client to make sure their newsletters and marketing emails not only get opened but also deliver real results.

1. Understanding Your Audience

The first step to better communication is knowing who you’re talking to. We help clients segment their email lists based on customer behaviors, demographics, or interests, so messages feel personalized and relevant instead of generic.

  • Small Business Example: A local coffee shop segments its list between weekday commuters and weekend regulars, sending different promotions tailored to each group.

2. Writing Subject Lines That Get Clicked

Your subject line is the gatekeeper. If it doesn’t spark curiosity or show immediate value, your email won’t get opened. We test and refine subject lines with our clients, using proven tactics that resonate with their audiences.

  • B2B Example: A consulting firm boosts open rates with subject lines like “Cut Your Reporting Time in Half,” speaking directly to the pain points of decision-makers.

3. Delivering Value Beyond the Sale

Subscribers don’t want endless promotions. The best emails provide value—whether it’s tips, resources, or stories that educate and inspire. We help clients strike this balance so their audience looks forward to opening each message.

  • eCommerce Example: An online clothing retailer shares seasonal style guides and “how to wear it” tips alongside promotions, giving customers value that extends beyond discounts.

4. Designing for Clarity and Mobile First

Most readers skim emails, and the majority open them on their phones. We create mobile-friendly designs that are clean, scannable, and visually engaging, making sure your message is clear no matter where it’s read.

  • Nonprofit Example: A nonprofit simplified its newsletter into short sections with bold headers, making updates easy to digest for busy supporters on mobile devices.

5. Crafting Clear Calls-to-Action (CTAs)

Every email needs a purpose. We work with clients to design CTAs that stand out and drive the desired action—whether it’s booking an appointment, registering for an event, or making a purchase.

  • Small Business Example: A boutique spa highlights a single bold “Book Your Appointment” button, rather than cluttering the email with multiple competing actions.

6. Testing, Tracking, and Optimizing

Email marketing is not “set it and forget it.” We track key metrics like open rates, click-throughs, and conversions, then adjust strategies based on real performance. A/B testing subject lines, layouts, and CTAs helps our clients continually improve.

  • B2B Example: A software company compared two emails—one promoting a case study download and another offering a webinar signup. Tracking results showed the webinar generated more qualified leads, shaping future campaigns.

7. Building Trust with Consistency and Authenticity

The best results come from building trust over time. We help clients establish a consistent schedule and keep their messaging authentic, so subscribers know they can count on their communications.

  • Nonprofit Example: A foundation sends monthly impact updates featuring stories from people they’ve helped, reinforcing donor trust and building long-term support.

Final Thoughts

Better marketing emails aren’t about luck—they’re about strategy, consistency, and putting your audience first. At NDIC, we make sure your communications stand out, deliver value, and drive results. And if you’re using tools like Mailchimp or Constant Contact, we can take them even further—helping you design professional templates, craft the right messages, and increase signups so your email marketing works harder for your business or nonprofit

False Keyword Ranking in Google

As part of our series on basic search engine optimization (SEO), let’s talk about how to measure your SEO efforts. A key metric is how you rank for each keyword you are targeting. Are you on the first page of search results? Are you in the top 3? Are you moving up in the results over time or are you moving down?

The most basic way to track your ranking is to do a search in Google and then count where you rank. If you are on the first page, you are at least in the top 10. If you are half way down the third page, your ranking is 35. Most people agree that if you aren’t at least on the first page then your ranking is meaningless, however, it still can be useful to see whether your rank is getting better or worse over time.

The problem with this basic way of tracking your ranking is that Google can mislead you terribly due to a new feature called “Personalized Search”. If you find that with little or no SEO effort, you are suddenly ranking #1 for a particular keyword, you may have been fooled by personalized search. Here’s how to figure out what’s going on…

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Analyzing Site Traffic

There are a number of tools you can use to analyze your web site’s traffic but they fall into two primary categories – Web based tools and Server based tools. What’s the difference and how can they affect your sites stats? Read on…

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To Tweet or Not to Tweet

Social Media experts will expound upon the virtues of Twitter in terms of your online marketing strategy. There is no doubt that Twitter can help expose your product or service to thousands of new prospects if you use it right. The question is, will you use it at all?

Let’s discuss the advantages of Twitter to your online marketing efforts and then we’ll talk about reasons NOT to use Twitter.

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