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Podcasting, is it for you? We give you the basics!

I created my first podcast years ago with a show called “Denver Urban Lifestyles”. Along with a marketing friend, we featured neighborhoods in Denver and area events. It was a lot of fun, but a lot of work! However, I’ve had the podcast “bug” ever since. More recently I’ve created and hosted an ongoing podcast for Denver Parent Magazine. It’s a magazine format and I’m in the process of cutting it up and re-releasing it

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How to handle a negative online review

Until just recently, unhappy customers had two options to complain formally: send a written letter/email, or ask to speak to a manager. Of course, this was in addition to personally telling all their friends about their experience. Along comes social media and now unhappy customers can now announce their complaints to a much larger audience: not only to their friends, but to anyone who’s listening. One statistic says that more than 93% of people shop

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Important tips for a Successful Website

Something that I think all of my customers have in common is that they have been given bad advice about websites at one time or another, so I thought I’d use my newsletter to give out some advice that might (or might not) fit your business. Here are things I think are really important to successful websites: Keep your site fresh and keep it fashionable! Even a new picture on the front or a color

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Tips for Newsletter Success!

We’ve been helping customers send newsletters for over 20 years. Here are several lessons have come out of my years of experience: Keep them consistent I really struggle with this but it’s really important. You want people to expect your newsletter, but not to be harassed. Keep them newsy and informational. Find reasons to send them but provide useful content, not all just promotional ideas. Pictures are great! Reviewing e-mail reports is key By taking

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Learn More About the Internet

Survive – maybe even thrive – in a recession!

It’s tempting to curb your marketing budget during an economic downturn and in in some cases it may make sense to turn to lower cost alternatives, but marketing is still important. One of the best ways you can keep on top of your marketing is to make sure your website is up-to-date and working correctly. It’s intimidating sometimes to reach out to get help, but your website is usually your first impression for most customers.

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Setting up your small business online: Part 2 E-Commerce isn’t really that simple

So you have registered your domain and picked out a hosting service. Now you’d like to sell something. Here’s where you can have so many options and it’s hard to tell what might be a good fit. One of the things I pride myself on is being able to explain complex systems to people who get bogged down in “tech-speak” and trust me the world of web design is full of “tech-speak”, but the reality

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Domain Verification for Your Newsletter

Having an Email newsletter is still one of the best online marketing tools, but starting February 2024, email authentication will be a requirement if you’re sending to Gmail and Yahoo Mail customers. If you’re not familiar with it, Email authentication is a process of verifying the identity of an email sender. If you have your own domain name – like apricitymarketing.com and your own email address (like mary-frances@apricitywebsolutions.com) you will want to send email that

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Generate an accessibility statement for your website

When creating a new website, you should think about making your site accessible – more information can be found here on the website. But something that’s vital is an accessibility statement. Not only does this protect you from legal consequences, but it also provides guidance for anyone having issues with your website.  A website accessibility statement should clearly convey your commitment to making your website accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. To achieve

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How Can We Help You

Is my website lazy?

Business owners may agree that their website is a necessary evil, however, I find that a lot of companies use their site as a glorified business card. They feature basic information about their business and a way to communicate with them. But for the cost and effort of having a website – are you really maximizing your website presence? At a recent networking meeting, I spoke about all of the “missed opportunities” your website could

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Case Studies

Transforming Blazen Illuminations’ Digital Landscape: A Case Study in Innovation and Engagement

Client Overview Founded in 1998, Blazen Illuminations is a family-owned experiential creative services company renowned for integrating cutting-edge lighting and multimedia technology with theatrical techniques and immersive storytelling. With a focus on cinematic vision, problem-solving engineering, and event management, Blazen produces award-winning, integrated event productions. Their patented media technology positions them as a single-source production partner for clients seeking innovative, immersive experiences. Challenges and Objectives Blazen Illuminations needed a comprehensive digital strategy to support its

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Screenshot of the front page of Handicraftclub.org website

Crafting a Modern Digital Experience: The Handicraft Club’s Online Transformation

Client Overview Founded in 1904 by Julia Lippitt Mauran, Mary Parsons, and eight other visionary women, The Handicraft Club of Providence, Rhode Island, has a storied history rooted in the promotion and practice of traditional crafts. For over a century, this private club has been a haven for artisans, offering classes in basketry, decorative arts, fiber arts, jewelry, needle arts, painting, printing, drawing, and weaving. As the organization grew, so did the need for a

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Client Case Study: Transforming Northern Will County Special Recreation District’s Digital Presence

Client Overview The Northern Will County Special Recreation District (NWCSRA) in Illinois was formed by merging several organizations dedicated to providing recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities. As part of their evolution, NWCSRA recognized the need for a cohesive brand identity and an engaging online presence that reflected their expanded mission. To achieve this, they partnered with Campfire Concepts for a comprehensive marketing analysis and rebranding initiative. They then entrusted us with the critical task

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