Although cliché, the quote “You never get a second chance to make a first impression,” is especially true in website design. And in the B2B landscape, where websites often serve as the initial point of contact for your potential clients, making a strong first impression is just as crucial as it is in B2C. While consumer-facing brands have long prioritized seamless digital experiences, B2B companies must now meet the same high standards to stay competitive.

Websites with strong user experience (UX) enhance trust, increase engagement, and ultimately lead to more conversions. But, if you neglect your website’s UX, it could cost you leads, and as a result, sales.

Don’t miss out on potential customers – learn the basics of UX, what makes a good UX for B2B websites, and the benefits of optimizing your website.

What is UX?

What is UX, you ask? Before we dive in, let’s introduce another acronym – UI. UI (user interface) and UX go hand in hand, shaping how users interact with a website, blending functionality with design to create a seamless experience.

UX (User Experience)

UX encompasses the overall experience users have when interacting with a website. It focuses on functionality, ease of use, and how efficiently users can achieve their goals. A strong UX design ensures intuitive navigation, accessibility, and a smooth, frustration-free experience.

UI (User Interface)

UI focuses on the visual and interactive layer of a website – the design elements that users engage with directly. This includes layout, typography, colors, buttons, icons, and other interactive components. A well-designed UI enhances user experience by making interactions clear, engaging, and aesthetically pleasing.

Together, strategic UX and UI design result in B2B websites that are not only functional, but also aesthetically pleasing – ensuring users stay engaged and find what they need, making them more likely to convert.

Importance of UX for B2B Websites

As the B2B landscape evolves, UX/UI has become a key factor in decision-making, with digital advancements reshaping how businesses research and purchase products or services. More than ever, companies rely on online channels to find information, compare options, and make decisions. Innovations like AI-driven personalization, cloud-based tools, and automation have raised expectations, making a smooth, user-friendly experience just as important in B2B as it is in B2C. Today’s buyers want quick access to information and effortless navigation, influencing how they engage with brands and ultimately make purchasing decisions.

With buyers conducting extensive online research before engaging with sales teams, a seamless, intuitive, and visually appealing website can significantly influence purchasing behavior. An intentional B2B website design with easy navigation and clear access to essential information – such as product specifications, pricing, and case studies – enhances trust and credibility.

Website UX Best Practices for B2B Websites

A well-designed B2B website isn’t just about aesthetics – it’s about creating a seamless experience that guides potential customers toward the information they need. Knowing how to improve website UX can significantly contribute to these positive outcomes, positioning your site for success. B2B website best practices include intuitive navigation, fast load times, mobile-friendly designs, and clear calls to action.

Intuitive Navigation

An intuitive navigation that allows potential customers to quickly and easily explore your website and learn more about your product is key. And while this may seem obvious, many B2B websites fall short by overcomplicating menus, burying essential information, or lacking clear pathways to key content. A well-structured navigation system streamlines the buyer's journey, making it easy to find product details, case studies, and contact options. When users can efficiently access the information they need, they’re more likely to stay engaged, build trust, and move toward a purchasing decision.

Best practices for intuitive navigation include:

Mobile Optimization

Ensuring your website is optimized for mobile devices is crucial, especially considering that 70% of B2B buyers use mobile devices to research products and services (Boston Consulting Group). If your website isn’t optimized for mobile, you risk losing potential customers to frustration. Responsive design ensures content adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes, maintaining readability, functionality, and ease of navigation. For B2B buyers who research on their phones between meetings or while traveling, a smooth mobile experience can be the difference between engagement and abandonment. Plus, search engines prioritize mobile-friendly websites, meaning better visibility and higher rankings – so more potential customers find you in the first place.

The benefits of mobile optimization include:

Page Speed

Today’s fast-paced world is only getting faster, and B2B buyers are busy professionals who want to find information as quickly and easily as possible. Slow-loading pages can frustrate users, harm conversions, and negatively impact the overall user experience. A fast B2B website is not only crucial for user satisfaction, but also for SEO (search engine optimization). Optimizing website speed enhances engagement, keeping potential customers on your site longer and ultimately improving your search engine rankings.

To ensure your website runs smoothly, consider these optimization tips:

Clear Calls-to-Action

Effective CTAs guide users toward the next steps in their journey, making it easier for them to take action. Well-designed CTAs can significantly boost conversion rates and help support key business goals by driving users to take desired actions.

Best practices for CTAs include:

Benefits of Optimizing UX for B2B Businesses

Optimizing website UX design offers numerous benefits for B2B businesses, including improved SEO, better data for measuring engagement, enhanced brand perception, accessibility compliance, and the development of long-lasting client relationships. A well-crafted B2B website design can help your business stand out, driving greater traffic, increasing conversions, and fostering stronger client connections.     

Improve Search Engine Rankings

Search engines prioritize websites with positive user experiences. Google, for example, rewards sites with fast loading times, mobile responsiveness, and user-friendly content. Optimizing UX not only enhances the user journey but also boosts search visibility, making it easier for potential clients to find you.

Get Better Analytics to Make Data-Driven Decisions

A well-designed UX not only improves user satisfaction but also provides better data for measuring engagement. Analyzing metrics like bounce rates, time on site, and conversion rates helps you understand user behavior and make data-informed decisions to continuously enhance your site and meet client needs.

Strengthen Brand Perception and Get a Competitive Edge

In a crowded market, good UX becomes a competitive advantage, reinforcing your brand’s image and building trust with potential clients. A frictionless experience demonstrates professionalism, shows a commitment to client satisfaction, and allows for positioning as an industry leader.

Ensure Accessibility Compliance and Inclusivity

Ensuring your website is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, is a critical component of UX. Accessibility not only broadens your reach, allowing you to connect with a wider audience, but also demonstrates social responsibility, enhancing your brand’s reputation. As accessibility requirements become more prevalent and are even legally mandated in many regions, it's essential to prioritize inclusive design. By creating an accessible website, you show your commitment to inclusivity, expanding your audience while fostering a positive, responsible image for your brand.

Build B2B Relationships

A positive UX plays a crucial role in fostering long-term client relationships, especially in B2B, where investments are often significant, and decisions take time. By offering a seamless and intuitive experience, you can build trust with potential clients, encouraging them to engage further with your brand. Trust is the foundation of successful B2B relationships, and a well-designed UX can be the first step in establishing that trust. When clients feel confident navigating your site and can easily access the information they need, they’re more likely to return and invest in your products or services.

Elevate Your B2B Website’s UX

Partner with Evolve, a skilled B2B website design agency, to ensure your website reflects the best practices in B2B website development. With a B2B website redesign, you can increase engagement, improve your customer experience, and build trust, ultimately leading to more conversions and long-term business growth. Contact us today to learn how we can help you evolve.

Traditionally, achieving and maintaining ADA website compliance required manual coding and ongoing updates to meet evolving standards, which was both time-consuming and expensive. Now, there are artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that automate and streamline this process, making it easy for businesses to ensure their websites are ADA compliant.

AI’s Growing Role in Web Accessibility

AI may seem like just a buzzword, but it is rapidly becoming a part of our everyday lives, enhancing experiences in ways we might not even notice. Beyond popular applications in entertainment and productivity, AI is also being used to improve website accessibility, making digital spaces more inclusive for all.

As AI emerges as a powerful yet easily accessible tool, ensuring web accessibility has become more achievable than ever before. Embracing AI-driven solutions can help us make websites more usable for everyone, including those with impairments.

By understanding why web accessibility is important and focusing on inclusiveness, we can ensure that our digital spaces are welcoming and functional for all users.

Understanding the Importance of Accessibility in Web Design

Many users with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments face challenges that can make navigating a website difficult or even impossible. Accessible web design is about creating digital experiences everyone can utilize, regardless of their abilities. By implementing AI-powered solutions, we can empower these users to seamlessly engage with online content.

Accessible web design not only helps businesses reach a wider, more diverse audience, it’s also crucial for inclusiveness and legal compliance.

Prioritizing Inclusivity

Think of website accessibility as providing a ramp or elevator alongside a set of stairs: it ensures that everyone can reach the same destination. Prioritizing accessibility means committing to equal access for all, creating a more inclusive internet where no one is left behind. By embracing this philosophy, we not only enhance the user experience for individuals with disabilities, but also broaden our reach and strengthen our communities.

The significance of web accessibility compliance extends beyond user experience, it’s also a legal requirement. In the US, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that websites be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Non-compliance can lead to costly lawsuits. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide a set of international standards that outline how to make web content accessible. The guidelines cover a wide range of recommendations, including making content visually perceivable, easily usable, and clearly understandable for users across different devices and assistive technologies.

Expanding Reach

Complying with accessibility regulations is not only a legal requirement, but also a way to enhance your website's usability for a wider audience. By making your site accessible, you can boost user engagement, improve customer satisfaction, and increase conversion rates, since more people can easily interact with your content and services. When you create ADA-compliant websites, you create better experiences for everyone who visits them.

Introducing accessiBe: A Game-Changer for Web Accessibility

As the demand for accessible digital spaces grows, many people are seeking solutions to understand how to make a website accessible and ensure their business is meeting accessibility standards. One such solution is accessiBe, an AI-powered tool that simplifies the process of achieving web accessibility compliance.

What is accessiBe?

accessiBe is a leading AI-powered resource designed to make websites accessible to all users, regardless of ability. accessiBe simplifies the process of achieving and maintaining website accessibility compliance, allowing businesses to reach a wider audience while adhering to ADA website accessibility standards. By seamless integrating into websites, accessiBe is changing the way businesses approach web accessibility.

Automated Accessibility Adjustments

AI-powered solutions like accessiBe continuously scan websites to detect accessibility issues and automatically apply the necessary adjustments. This can include everything from optimizing website structure for screen readers to enabling keyboard navigation for users with motor impairments.

Using machine learning algorithms, these AI systems can recognize patterns, identify areas where WCAG compliance and ADA compliance improvements are needed, and implement changes in real-time, ensuring that websites remain compliant as they evolve.

The Forefront of Accessibility

Screenshot of a website with an accessiBe widget and it's accessibility adjustments.

accessiBe is a pioneer in accessibility, utilizing its AI technology to automate website accessibility through AccessWidget. This automation solution not only ensures compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but also provides businesses with a simple, cost-effective way to make their websites accessible to all users, regardless of impairment. Whether for 508 compliance, ACA compliance, or EAA compliance, AccessiBe offers a comprehensive solution for staying ahead of accessibility compliance.

Accessibility Features for a Diverse Range of Abilities

accessiBe provides web accessibility options designed to accommodate a wide range of abilities. It ensures users with different needs can navigate and interact with websites seamlessly.

Benefits of Implementing accessiBe

Implementing accessiBe offers a range of benefits beyond accessibility compliance. It helps businesses enhance websites for all users. Here are some examples of how accessiBe can provide a positive experience to website users:

Enhanced User Experience

accessiBe helps users quickly find what they’re looking for, regardless of their technical ability. Its high-contrast mode and adjustable text sizes empower those with visual impairments, making even the most challenging content easily readable.

Furthermore, features like one-handed keyboard navigation and closed captioning create a more inclusive digital environment. These enhancements not only cater to people with different abilities, but also elevate the experience for all users, making websites more accessible, intuitive, and enjoyable for everyone.

Compliance with Standards

accessiBe ensures that websites meet important legal requirements, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and WCAG compliance. The AI technology continuously scans the website to check for any breaches and will update the websites to maintain compliance. This not only reduces the risk of lawsuits, but also ensures that your business follows accessibility standards like 508 compliance and ACA compliance.

Ease of Integration

accessiBe can be utilized by both small businesses and large corporations and can be easily integrated into existing websites. After it’s installed, accessiBe handles the rest, using AI to identify and fix accessibility issues without needing developer intervention or website redesigns.

SEO Advantages

Improving website accessibility positively impacts search engine optimization (SEO). By automatically optimizing a website’s structure, providing clearer navigation, and offering alt text for images, accessiBe enhances the site’s usability, which search engines like Google favor. Accessible websites tend to rank higher in search results, driving more organic traffic and improving online visibility.

Protect Your Business & Ensure ADA Compliance with accessiBe’s AI-Powered Solution

ADA compliance is crucial for businesses of all sizes, whether you’re a small business owner, a non-profit organization, or an industrial manufacturer. Thanks to AI-powered tools like accessiBe, achieving compliance has never been easier.  

Don’t leave your business at risk for expensive lawsuits. If you're uncertain whether your website meets accessibility standards, you could already be vulnerable. Protect yourself and ensure your site is accessible to all users. Contact us to learn more about integrating accessiBe into your website.

Paid advertising is a highly effective digital marketing strategy, especially for B2B and industrial sectors. This article will explore how B2B and industrial manufacturers can leverage PPC to enhance visibility, accelerate market entry, and drive targeted engagement through strategic Google Ads management and other tailored B2B PPC strategies.

What is Pay-Per-Click?

Pay-per-click (PPC) is a type of paid advertising that charges the advertiser each time their ad is clicked. Companies use paid search marketing to have their ad placed higher within the search engine results pages (SERP) to drive traffic to their website. Working with a B2B PPC agency can play a crucial role in crafting these campaigns to successfully reach targeted audiences.

Example of B2B search ad for Ohio Truck Sales.

Benefits of PPC for Manufacturers

Paid advertising is a powerful way for industrial manufacturers to place their products directly in front of potential clients and customers. 

Immediate Impact with Quick Results

One of the most significant advantages of PPC for manufacturers and B2B companies is the immediate impact of paid advertising. Unlike SEO, which builds over time, PPC campaigns can be launched and optimized quickly, providing immediate visibility and significant lead generation. For instance, a well-structured B2B PPC campaign can drive targeted traffic to your website, resulting in rapid gains in both traffic and conversions. This can be especially beneficial for product launches or when entering new markets.

Highly Targeted Advertising

The targeting capabilities available with paid advertising allow businesses to reach specific demographics and geographic locations and even operate on a schedule that matches peak business hours. For B2B companies, the ability to use keyword targeting with B2B paid search to reach niche audiences is invaluable. Keywords enable advertisers to position their search ads in front of decision-makers actively seeking their specific services.

Digital marketers also use paid advertising for retargeting. When a user doesn’t convert by completing a form or other pre-determined conversion point, retargeting helps keep the brand at the front of their minds to increase the chance of a conversion.

Measurable ROI

With comprehensive analytics tools, PPC managers can track everything from clicks to conversions, making it easier to calculate the return on investment (ROI). These metrics are crucial for understanding campaign effectiveness and for making informed decisions to optimize B2B PPC strategies further.

Boost Brand Visibility

Even when users do not click on an ad, PPC helps increase brand awareness. Display and remarketing ads keep your brand visible to potential clients who have previously engaged with your website, ensuring your company stays top-of-mind. Over time, this increased visibility can lead to greater market share, especially in competitive B2B environments.

Lead Generation and Expansion

Paid ads drive warm leads by allowing B2B companies and industrial manufacturers to reach the right people at the time they are actively searching for what they are selling. Essentially, skipping past cold audiences to a warm audience that is ready to buy their products and/or services. 

By placing ads directly in front of potential customers at the moment they are searching for related services or products, B2B PPC strategies create a direct pipeline of interested prospects. This approach is particularly effective because it targets users who have already shown interest by initiating relevant searches.

A/B Testing for Better Results

B2B PPC agencies employ A/B testing within PPC campaigns to identify the most effective ad copy, landing page designs, and call-to-action phrases. This constant refinement process not only improves the quality of leads generated but also helps reduce the cost per lead, optimizing the overall marketing spend.

Unify Other Marketing Channels

Paid advertising not only works well on its own but also enhances other marketing channels. For example, insights gained from PPC campaigns can be repurposed in SEO and social media strategies, creating a cohesive online marketing approach. This synergy helps maximize the overall impact of digital marketing efforts, driving more targeted traffic and increasing conversions.

PPC Management Services for B2B and Industrial Manufacturers

PPC offers B2B companies and industrial manufacturers a dynamic and effective way to reach target audiences, control spending, and measure the impact of their marketing efforts. As digital landscapes continue to evolve, incorporating PPC into your marketing strategy can provide the agility and precision necessary to stay ahead.

For expert guidance and effective PPC management, consider partnering with Evolve Marketing. Our tailored B2B PPC strategy and services help you reach your target audience, maximize your ROI, and boost your sales. Trust us to deliver outstanding results. Contact us today to get a quote.

Partnerships with a B2B marketing agency are crucial for industrial companies navigating digital marketing. The collaboration between internal expertise and a B2B digital marketing agency empowers manufacturers to navigate market complexities, innovate, and achieve sustainable growth. In this article we will explore how strategic partnerships can benefit manufacturers and be key to success in the industrial sector.

Key Takeaways:

Strategic Partnerships:

  • Develop meaningful partnerships with B2B marketing agencies to achieve mutual growth and learning.
  • Leverage combined expertise to navigate the complexities of the B2B sector.

Customization & Scalability:

  • Obtain customizable and scalable marketing strategies.
  • Align marketing efforts with evolving market demands and business growth.

Advanced Tools & Technologies:

  • Access cutting-edge tools for custom web development and search engine optimization (SEO) to ensure your B2B website is found online.
  • Enhance marketing campaign effectiveness and increase ROI.

Enhanced Creativity & Innovation:

  • Collaborate to push creative boundaries in manufacturer marketing.
  • Develop innovative approaches and unique content to reach new customers.

Optimization of Resources:

  • Delegate specific tasks to B2B digital agencies, allowing your in-house marketing team to focus on core competencies and strategic initiatives.
  • Streamline operations and enhance overall productivity.

Navigating Market Complexity:

  • Utilize specialized knowledge and insights to make informed decisions.
  • Develop strategies synchronized with digital marketing trends and market realities.

Strengthening Brand Equity:

  • Create consistent and compelling brand narratives.
  • Establish industry leadership as subject matter experts to reach new prospects and strengthen customer relationships. 

Performance Measurement & Continuous Improvement:

  • Employ analytics and performance measurement to assess the effectiveness of marketing initiatives accurately.
  • Monitor changes in the digital marketing landscape to remain up to date with the latest trends and developments.

The Power of Combined Expertise

Partnering with a B2B marketing agency facilitates the merging of diverse skills, knowledge, and experiences. This partnership enables a comprehensive understanding of market dynamics, customer behavior, and B2B digital marketing trends. Giving manufacturers access to streamlined and powerful marketing strategies that can enhance brand visibility and customer engagement.

Secure Customization and Scalability

B2B marketing agencies help industrial companies tailor their marketing strategies and website development to meet specific goals. These partnerships can also assist in refining a company's brand message. As markets evolve and organizations grow, working with a B2B marketing agency allows for flexibility in adjusting digital marketing efforts to stay current and effective.

Save on Advanced Tools and Technologies

B2B digital marketing agencies excel in using advanced tools and technologies to enhance the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. From data analytics to cutting-edge SEO tools, agencies have proficient resources to achieve optimal results. This approach allows industrial companies to gain valuable insights and improve efficiency and ROI, without the significant investment usually required for acquiring software and training.

Enhanced Creativity & Innovation

Collaboration between in-house teams and B2B digital agencies leads to enhanced creativity and innovation. The blending of diverse perspectives and a unified commitment to achieving marketing success enable manufacturers to venture into new creative territories, experiment with diverse approaches, and push conventional boundaries in digital marketing for manufacturers.

Time and Resource Optimization

Working with a B2B marketing agency allows companies to allocate their time and resources more efficiently. By delegating specific tasks to agency teams, in-house staff can focus on core activities and strategic projects.  Agency partnerships bring expertise in understanding complex markets, aiding in-house teams in making well-informed decisions. They help develop strategies that align with current market realities and digital marketing trends in the industrial sector, leveraging their knowledge and experience for optimal outcomes.

Strengthening Brand Equity with B2B Manufacturing Marketing

Strategic partnerships with marketing agencies are key to enhancing brand equity, especially for B2B manufacturing companies. B2B marketing agencies can help craft consistent and impactful brand stories, ensuring a unified brand presentation across various channels. This consistency in branding strengthens customer relationships and boosts brand recognition, proving vital for long-term business success.

Performance Measurement and Improvement

B2B marketing agencies excel in analytics and performance measurement, crucial for evaluating marketing efforts' success. They offer ongoing monitoring to fine-tune strategies, informed by their expertise. This approach ensures businesses stay competitive, capitalizing on digital marketing opportunities to target and convert new target audiences.

Elevate Your B2B Marketing Strategy

Achieve remarkable growth by combining the strengths of your in-house team with an agency's diverse expertise, advanced tools, and creative innovation. Contact us today to forge a partnership built on mutual growth, innovation, and a shared vision for success.

At Evolve Marketing, we’re guided by our five core values. They are the operating philosophies that guide our day-to-day interactions with each other and our clients. The fifth value, trust, outlines our commitment to investing in our team through internal growth and promotion:

“Trust each other’s unique experience and skill sets. Encourage each other to grow and succeed in our respective roles”.

There is no better evidence of our trust in our employees and our commitment to their success than the promotion of four team members into new roles for 2024.

Kiersten Traboulsi Promoted to Director of Web & Creative

Kiersten is celebrating her thirteenth year with Evolve in October 2024. Joining Evolve right after she graduated from Ohio University with a degree in Interactive Multimedia, her diverse skill set spans front-end development, design, user experience (UX), strategy, and project management, all informed by her vast project experience. Evolve’s commitment to Kiersten’s success throughout the years has enabled her to evolve through many roles, including:

  1. Web Designer
  2. Mid-Level Web Designer
  3. Web Design Project Manager
  4. Creative Director

Today we are pleased to announce Kiersten’s promotion to Director of Web & Creative. In her new role, she will oversee Evolve’s web developers and designers, ensuring meaningful experiences for our clients and pushing the boundaries of creativity and functionality.

Katie Conaway Promoted to Digital Marketing Manager

Katie began her journey at Evolve in October 2019. Leveraging her experience in the digital landscape since earning her Master's in Information Communication Sciences in the 1990s, she has acquired first-hand experience in helping clients expand their reach, increase sales, and harness the power of a strategic online presence in an ever-changing digital marketing world.

Almost five years later, she has held many positions on the digital marketing team at Evolve, including:

  1. Content Specialist
  2. Content Strategist
  3. Digital Marketing Supervisor

Working closely with designers, web developers, and our clients, Katie has acquired the experience and skills to help lead her team as the new Digital Marketing Manager.

Donny Rambacher Promoted to Art Director

Throughout his five years at Evolve, Donny’s creative insight, technical know-how, and ability to create designs with a client’s business goals in mind have allowed him to thrive. His experience in graphic design, branding, digital advertising, and video has proven him to be a valuable asset, allowing him to progress into various roles at Evolve:

  1. Digital Graphic Designer
  2. Sr. Digital Graphic Designer

Now promoted to Art Director, he is positioned to guide Evolve designers and work closely with developers and digital marketing team members to ensure that client solutions are not only aesthetically appealing but positioned to resonate with intended audiences to facilitate successful results.

Kristen Lauck Promoted to Digital Marketing Strategist

After graduating from the University of Akron, Kristen joined the digital marketing team and was off and running. She quickly gained technical knowledge and hands-on experience to provide stellar strategic content, search engine optimization (SEO), PPC advertising, and social media and email marketing solutions for clients. Kristen’s attention to detail in all aspects of her work has earned her yearly promotions at Evolve. Her previous roles include:

  1. Digital Marketing Coordinator
  2. Digital Marketing Specialist
  3. Jr. Digital Marketing Strategist

 In her new role as Digital Marketing Strategist, Kristen will be crafting digital marketing strategies aimed at maximizing results for our clients across various digital marketing channels.

Helping Our Team Members and Clients Evolve

Our trust in every member of the Evolve team allows us to deliver outstanding solutions to our clients. Don’t just take our word for it. Check out the solutions our hard-working, dedicated team has provided throughout the years. From custom website design and development to digital marketing solutions, we are here to help your organization evolve. Contact us to find out how we can partner with you to realize your online marketing initiatives.

I’m thrilled to share with you the exciting milestone of our 15th anniversary. This isn’t just a celebration of time passed; it's a moment of reflection on the incredible journey we've embarked upon.

Core Values Guide Our Operation

When I founded Evolve, my vision was to create something extraordinary—something with a distinct identity and a powerful brand. I aimed to establish core values that weren't just words on paper or fancy signs, but principles that would genuinely guide every facet of our operations. Today, I’m proud to say that we have achieved just that.

Embracing Challenges for Growth and Improvement

Building a company is no walk in the park; it has its fair share of challenges. We’ve all made mistakes along the way, but each one has been a steppingstone to growth and improvement. Evolve has always made space for taking smart risks and embracing failures, provided we learn from them, which allows our team to grow and innovate together. As the saying goes, a company is only as good as the people it surrounds itself with. We’ve built a team of like-minded individuals who approach every day with the goal of doing their best work, continuing to learn, and growing in all they do.

Our Team is Intentional in Everything We Do

Our success story at Evolve is a testament to the incredible individuals who have been a part of our journey. I’m immensely grateful for the talented, passionate, and caring team that defines Evolve today. We’re truly blessed.

What sets Evolve apart is our commitment to being intentional in everything we do. We carefully consider every decision, whether it involves our team, our clients, or the work we do. Our thoughtful and respectful approach to every situation makes us stand out.

One of the most fulfilling aspects of Evolve is witnessing the growth of our team members. Providing career opportunities and watching individuals evolve from entry-level positions to leadership roles is extremely fulfilling.

Evolve Marketing Continues to Thrive Despite Economic Downturns

In the unpredictable world of business, where curveballs are inevitable, grit and resilience are crucial. I founded Evolve in the midst of economic challenges in 2009. Since then, we’ve navigated through the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to thrive despite economic downturns.

There's no “secret sauce” to reaching 15 years; it's about living and leading by the golden rule and strong core values. Success is achievable for any business that’s built on and stays in alignment with these guiding principles.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who’s been a part of Evolve, from our dedicated team members to our incredible clients. You’re the reason we've come this far, and I’m excited about our future. One thing is certain—we’ll always continue to evolve.


Here's to 15 years of growth, purpose, success, and to many more milestones ahead!


About the Author, Todd Bertsch: Owner and President of Evolve Marketing

Todd Bertsch founded Evolve Marketing in 2009. As an award-winning web designer, educator, lecturer, and speaker, his 28+ years of experience in web design and development and marketing strategies separate him and Evolve from others in the web industry.

We’re Ready to Help You Evolve

Whether you need custom web developmentgraphic design and brandingdigital marketing strategies, or management services for PPC and SEO, our experienced team is here to help grow your business. Contact us today! We’re a web design and marketing agency ready to partner with you to achieve your digital marketing goals. 

Why Cookies Matter in the Digital Age

As the digital world evolves, so do privacy concerns. Ensuring that your website is compliant with current laws and regulations is no longer a luxury, it's a necessity. Partnering with CookieYes empowers us to help you give your website users control of their privacy. This platform offers a customizable cookie consent banner, records cookie consent, and manages all your cookie compliance needs in one place.

Understanding Internet Cookies

Internet cookies are crucial for enhancing website functionality and user experience. Also known as HTTP cookies, browser cookies, or web cookies, they are small pieces of data stored on a user's browser to remember settings, preferences, and other forms of identification.

Key Uses of Internet Cookies

Types of Internet Cookies

Before we discuss more on cookie consent, it is important to understand the different types of internet cookies and how they vary based on where they come from, how long they stay on your browser, and what they're used for.

Source-Based Cookies

Duration-Centric Cookies

Purpose-Driven Cookies

With the rise of data protection regulations worldwide, there’s been an escalating importance attached to cookie compliance. There are many misconceptions about internet cookies that have led to inadequate practices that can potentially harm both businesses and users, including:

When navigating the complexities of data protection regulations and compliance, two terms often come up: cookie policy and privacy policy. While they both serve to inform visitors about your data-handling practices, they are not interchangeable and serve different purposes. However, a website cookie policy can be included in your website privacy policy page or as a standalone page. Let's break down what each policy is for and why you may need both.

A cookie policy is a legal document that provides detailed information about how your website uses cookies. It typically includes:

What is a Privacy Policy?

A privacy policy is a broader legal document that explains how a website collects, uses, discloses, and manages a user's personal data. It usually covers:

Why You Need Both

  1. Regulatory Requirements: Many jurisdictions require both policies. For example, GDPR necessitates a transparent privacy policy, while the ePrivacy Directive demands a specific cookie policy.
  2. User Trust: Clearly laying out your data-handling practices builds trust among your visitors. Users are more likely to engage with a site when they know their data is handled responsibly.
  3. Legal Protection: Having both a website cookie policy and website privacy policy reduces your risk of legal complications related to data collection and usage.

Cookie consent refers to the legal requirement to obtain user approval before deploying certain types of internet cookies. CookieYes is a solution that helps websites to be compliant with privacy laws by implementing cookie banners and automatically blocking non-essential cookies until consent is obtained.

CookieYes consent popup
  1. Implied Consent
  2. Banner Notification: Websites display a banner notifying users about the use of cookies. If users continue to use the site, consent is implied.
  3. Pop-Up Notification: A pop-up appears, informing users about cookies, and consent is implied when users continue to navigate the site.
implied consent banner for GDPR
explicit consent banner for cookie privacy

How Does GDPR Affect Cookies?

GDPR Graphic

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) considers any information that can identify an individual as personal data. This includes data collected through cookies like IP addresses, usernames, and even behavioral data tracked for personalizing experiences or advertising. As a result, the GDPR places significant emphasis on obtaining informed, explicit consent from users before using cookies. This means pre-ticked boxes or assuming consent through inactivity isn't acceptable.

Why a Simple GDPR Banner Doesn’t Suffice

In the initial days of GDPR, a simple banner informing users about cookie use was a widespread practice. However, the landscape of data protection has matured, with clearer interpretations of the regulations and higher user awareness.

How Does the CCPA Affect Cookies?

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is not as strict as the GDPR. It does not require explicit consent from visitors to store cookies on their devices. It only requires websites to offer clear notice and choices to California consumers. This includes providing information about what type of internet cookies are used by the website, why, and how users can manage them.

Understanding and managing cookies is critical in today's digital age. Cookie compliance may seem daunting, but the right tools can simplify the process.

Ready to make your website cookie compliant? Contact us today to get started!

Our team is truly evolving! As we continue to grow and work towards our vision for the future, it is important to recognize the growth within our organization. Evolve is proud and excited to announce Katie Conaway’s promotion to Digital Marketing Supervisor and Kristen Lauck’s promotion to Junior Digital Marketing Strategist.

Katie Conaway Promoted to Digital Marketing Supervisor

Katie started working at Evolve as a Digital Marketing Specialist in October 2019. She gained experience in all aspects of digital marketing, including social media content/strategy, email marketing, web page optimization, and technical SEO best practices and strategy for website redesign projects. As a result, she was promoted to Content Strategist in April 2021.

As a Content Strategist, Katie took on more responsibility, helping to identify and create internal digital marketing practices, monitor search marketing industry changes, and create in-depth content strategies for Evolve clients. She also began mentoring, training, and working closely with not only the Digital Marketers, but also the entire Evolve team to ensure SEO best practices were being accounted for in all aspects our digital service offerings.

In her new role as Digital Marketing Supervisor, Katie will work with Sierra, our Digital Marketing Manager, to support the department and will work more closely with the Digital Marketing team members - mentoring, providing guidance, and ensuring team members meet all client expectations.

“My time at Evolve has really enabled me to evolve both professionally and personally. After being out of the workforce for 11 years raising our two daughters, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to re-enter the workforce in a full-time capacity in a meaningful way. Evolve has helped me not only fit in and contribute to the current workforce but thrive!”

Kristen Lauck Promoted to Junior Digital Marketing Strategist

Kristen started working at Evolve as a Digital Marketing Coordinator in January 2021. In this role, she was eager to grow and learn. She created social media posts, wrote engaging eNews content, helped monitor PPC campaigns, and created and analyzed custom reports for clients. After quickly learning and evolving, she was promoted to Digital Marketing Specialist in January 2022.

Ready to dive into her new position as Digital Marketing Specialist, Kristen continued to further develop her skills and ask thoughtful questions, applying everything she learned along the way to produce meaningful results. She began to work more closely with clients to help them achieve their goals in various ways, whether it was optimizing campaigns, copywriting, or strategizing landing page content. Because of her quick growth and passion for the success of our clients and our team, Kristen has once again been promoted.

In her new role as Junior Digital Marketing Strategist, Kristen will take on more responsibility and ownership, continuing to expand her skills to help our clients and our team grow and flourish.

“Since starting at Evolve two years ago, I almost can’t believe how much I’ve learned. I’m so thankful to work in an environment that encourages and supports growth. As I step into this new role, I’m looking forward to continuing to develop my skills and knowledge, work with great clients, and take on new challenges.”

Working Towards Our Future, and Yours

In their new positions, Katie and Kristen will continue to collaborate with our team and help our clients achieve their goals. The Evolve team congratulates Katie and Kristen on their achievements and we’re very excited to see them both grow and excel in their new roles.

Like Katie and Kristen, the Evolve team is dedicated, hardworking, and prepared for any challenge. Contact us today to see how our team and services can help grow your business.

Viewing your conversions by source/medium allows you to see which traffic channels bring you the most converting traffic. If you have goal conversions set up in your Universal Analytics (UA) property view, you can use the conversions report to track valuable actions users take on your website, such as submitting a contact form or clicking on the phone number to call.

To view your UA conversions by source/medium, select Conversions, then Goals, then Overview, and lastly Source/Medium.

Red boxes highlighting how to navigate to the conversions by source medium report in Universal Analytics.

In Google Analytics 4 (GA4), goals are referred to as conversions. Just like in UA, conversions require configuration. Once you have your conversions set up, follow this step-by-step guide to view the conversions report by source/medium.

Viewing the GA4 Conversions Reports

Remember, you must set up and configure events and conversions before you can view data in the conversions report. But don’t worry, we’re here to help set up your new GA4 property. Contact us to learn more.

Once your events and conversions are configured, go to your GA4 property. Click on Reports and Engagement. Here you will find the Events report and the Conversions report.

GA4 events and conversions reports

In the Conversions report, you can view data for the specific events you flagged as conversion points for your website. This is the equivalent of the goals report in UA. To view conversions by source/medium, click on the plus sign. In the drop-down, select Traffic source, then select Session source medium.

Where to add a secondary dimension on the GA4 conversions report.
Find the session source medium dimension under traffic sources as a secondary dimension in the GA4 conversions report.

Now you can see which GA4 conversions came from which traffic sources.

The GA4 conversions report sorted by source medium.

Ready to Find More GA4 Reports?

Check out our other Google Analytics 4 step-by-step guides in our blog: How to Find Basic Data from UA in GA4.

Or contact us today to learn more about our in-depth, 1-on-1 GA4 training sessions so you can navigate GA4 like a pro.

In Google Analytics 4 (GA4), Bounce Rate isn’t a metric that’s readily available in the standard reports like it is in Universal Analytics. Learn how to add Bounce Rate to your GA4 reports in this step-by-step guide.

Before we begin, it’s important to note that Bounce Rate is calculated differently in GA4 than in Universal Analytics.

In GA4, Bounce Rate is the percentage of non-engaged sessions. You may be wondering, “what’s an engaged session?” An engaged session is when a user does at least one of the following:

If a session does not meet any of the above criteria, it’s considered a non-engaged session and therefore contributes to your Bounce Rate.

Now that we understand what Bounce Rate is in GA4, let’s walk through how to add Bounce Rate to your reports.

Adding Bounce Rate to Standard GA4 Reports

Google Analytics 4 reporting interface with red arrows instructing how to navigate to the Pages and screens report and edit it to include Bounce Rate.

First, navigate to the Pages and screens report by clicking Reports, then Engagement, then Pages and screens. Once there, click the pencil icon in the top right corner to edit this report.

Google Analytics 4 reporting interface with a red arrow pointing to show how to add Metrics to Pages and screens report.

Then click Metrics.

Google Analytics 4 reporting interface with a red arrow pointing to show where to click to add a Metric to customize your report.

Next, click +Add metric and select Bounce Rate from the list of options. You can use the six dots on the left side of the metric box to drag and drop it in the order you prefer. Then click the blue Apply button in the bottom left corner.

Google Analytics 4 reporting interface with a red arrow pointing to show how to save changes to your current report.

Now Bounce Rate is in your Pages and screens report! Don’t forget to click Save in the top right corner. We selected Save changes to current report so that this metric is readily available when we view the Pages and screens report.

Get Additional GA4 Guides and Training

Looking for more on GA4? Check out our other step-by-step guides in our blog: How to Find Basic Data from UA in GA4.

Or if you need hands-on GA4 training, look no further than the Evolve Marketing team. We can walk you through the GA4 platform in a live training session where you can ask questions and get 1-on-1 support. Contact us today for more information.

Evolve Marketing - Akron, OH Digital Marketing Agency
Developing strategies. Designing experiences.

Driving growth.

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