When you work with Iceberg Web Design, you get to have a dedicated partner with an invested team in your business’s interests. Each month we have been featuring each of our team members in a profile post, so you can get to know the penguins better. This month, we are talking to Hattie McCoy, our Marketing & SEO Penguin! 

Hattie | Marketing & SEO

How long have you been working for Iceberg?

 Over eight whole months! 

Have your duties changed since you first started working here?

 Duties are evolving but absolutely fit under the umbrella of my title.

What do you do for Iceberg’s customers?

I am privileged to work with many different types of companies on their SEO and Digital Marketing goals. The job varies by company but can include reputation management, Optimizing web pages to better-fit lead goals, google my business set up and monitoring, Google Ads, Keyword research, email campaigns, and more.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

I appreciate that the job looks a little different each day. I learn more about businesses and figure out how to better serve their customers, and I help them meet their milestones, whatever they may be.  We work with a lot of local businesses, and it’s great to be able to see the impact we can make to the small business and the local community.

What is your #1 goal when working with a customer?

I think paramount of my job is to make sure I am on the same page with our Customers. I need to understand their business well enough to speak to it and find out what they are looking for from their qualified leads/ customers. I think the plan is to be collaborative while making the dial turn for the business.

In what other industries have you worked?

I have worked in many jobs. Including radio, retail, custom perfumes, credit unions, data centers, and more! I have also moved from Iowa to Colorado to Minnesota. I think my varied experiences have made me a good fit in this position to work with very different businesses.

Tell us a bit about your family (including pets):

My husband, Mike, is an electrician who has the biggest heart and always wants to make sure everyone is having a great time. My dog Gimi is a 5-year-old Lab- Mutt that is a large (100 lbs) baby. I am also expecting a tiny human addition to my family in March 2021. I am excited to be a new mom! 

Do you have any hobbies/special interests?

I enjoy reading, playing video games, board games, binge-watching tv shows, hiking, swimming, trying new foods, and the occasional craft time. 

What is something about you that might surprise your customers and co-workers?

That I am an open book, and not much is super surprising. 

Describe your perfect day:

Great food, great company, great weather, and I’m there. 

Science or History? Which is your favorite and why?

It’s a tough choice because I think it’s good for everyone to know and appreciate both at least a little. I think I am probably a better history student, but I could easily get into a few specific science fields. I’ve always been pretty fascinated with psychology, and I think it probably draws a little on both history and science. 

If you were guaranteed the correct answer to one question, what would you ask?

How can I make the best positive impact?

What is your best piece of advice? It can be about anything

Some of our biggest disappointments are the expectations that we have that cannot be met. A lot of things are out of anyone’s control. Do the best you can with what you have, and you may find that there are a million ways to yes. 

Connect With Hattie or the Iceberg Team

Learn more about The Iceberg Team, Read Some Of Iceberg’s Reviews or Connect with Hattie on Linkedin!

The post Penguin Profile: Hattie McCoy| Iceberg Web Design appeared first on Iceberg Web Design.

Each month we have been featuring each of our team members in a profile post, so you can get to know the penguins better. This month, we are talking to Kyle Teeter. Kyle has been a Website Developer at Iceberg Web Design for the past three years.

Kyle | Website Developer Penguin

Have your duties changed since you first started working here?

I originally started as a CSR while I finished up my education in Software Engineering. Once I finished up the education, Iceberg needed a Website Developer and offered me a new position as a website developer.

What do you do for Iceberg’s customers?

As a Website Developer, I help customers maintain and update their websites and work with new clients to build marketing, e-commerce, and custom websites.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

I love being able to work with clients to solve problems. Web development goes far beyond just what the public sees, and I really enjoy the process of discovering how a website can help streamline things within the client’s business.

What is your #1 goal when working with a customer?

My number one goal is to listen to their needs and ideas. They are all experts in their fields, and we learn so much from them every day.

In what other industries have you worked?

I have worked in many other industries over the years, ranging from commercial fishing to education. 

Tell us a bit about your family (including pets):

My wife and I just moved back to Minnesota about two years ago. We have really enjoyed connecting with the community and exploring the area. We have two mischievous cats that are using finding ways to ambush each other when they are not sleeping.

Do you have any hobbies/special interests?

Recently, I have been learning a few new sports like rollerblading and cross-country skiing. Also, I have a lot of fun trying to make new recipes, often inspired by international tv shows.

What is something about you that might surprise your customers and co-workers?

You might be surprised to know that I have a side business in the education industry. It has been challenging, but everything I have learned in the process makes it easier for me to connect with other business owners.

Describe your perfect day.

While I do love my work, I would have to say that a perfect day for me would be spent with my family doing the things that we love to do.

Science or History? Which is your favorite and why?

That is a hard one. I enjoy both, but I would have to go with science. The process of asking questions, creating a hypothesis, etc., is really enjoyable for me. I am quite curious and pretty easily fascinated by things.  

If you were guaranteed the correct answer to one question, what would you ask?

What untruths do I currently believe?

What is your best piece of advice? It can be about anything.

“Listen to advice and accept discipline; then you, too, will become wise. People might make many plans, but what the Lord says is what will happen.” – Proverbs 19:20-21

Meet All the Penguins!

Kyle and the rest of the penguins at Iceberg Web Design look forward to helping you solve your business problems. Contact us to meet all the penguins as we create your next website!

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When you work with Iceberg Web Design, you will meet their entire team of web marketing professionals. Each of us on the team has a unique role in making sure that your website becomes a powerful tool for your business. But who are these penguins who are helping you connect with your customers? Recently, we’ve been profiling our team of penguins.

Over the past couple of months, we’ve been introducing you to some of the Penguins at Team Iceberg. Next up to bat is..

LENNY!  Just kidding it’s his dad, Shane Bader, Vice President of Sales and Marketing! 

Shane | VP of Sales & Marketing

How long have you been working for Iceberg?

Nearly five years

Have your duties changed since you first started working here? 

Yes. I started in sales and have since taken on the role of heading up the marketing department.

What do you do for Iceberg’s customers? 

I consult with our customers on their website and digital marketing goals.  From there, I provide a solution that will attain these goals. 

What’s your favorite part of your job? 

Building long-lasting relationships with both our customers and our team members. 

What is your number one goal when working with a customer? 

To see them succeed. After working with Iceberg for almost five years, I hear quite a bit about [our clients’] successes. While working together on a project, we get to know their business well.  Then we see the direct results of them achieving their goals like:  A home builder we work with built 50 homes beyond what they predicted they would; An irrigation company that we started working with four years ago now has a staff and full-time work. A roofing company we work with more than doubled their traffic and leads from last year. It’s great to see clients succeed.

In what other industries have you worked? 

I have worked as an insurance agent, bartender, and sales director.

Tell us a bit about your family (including pets). 

My wife’s name is Britta, and we have a daughter named Adilyn, who is nearly two. We also have a four-year-old dog named Lenny. We adopted him from a rescue organization called  Secondhand Hounds.

Lenny is pictured at the top!

Do you have any hobbies or special interests? 

I like to hike, fish, and enjoy the outdoors. I also play music. I have turntables and mix records for house and techno.

What is something about you that might surprise your customers and co-workers?

I’m on a Kickball Team called the Cannibalz.

Describe your perfect day.

A day in a fishing boat with friends and family on a Minnesota lake.

Science or History? Which is your favorite and why? 

History, I like to learn how things happened. I love music documentaries and biographies.

If you were guaranteed the correct answer to one question, what would you ask?

What is the missing link in human evolution?

What is your best piece of advice? It can be about anything.

Stay positive through life’s challenges. 

Find out more!

Connect with Shane on LinkedIn.  For all of your online marketing needs, you can contact us at Iceberg Web Design.

 Contact Iceberg Web Design today to see what we can do for your business today! 

Read Our Reviews

The post Shane Bader | VP of Sales and Marketing | Iceberg Web Design Inc. appeared first on Iceberg Web Design.

TRUST TRUST TRUST!

It’s no secret that it is difficult to convert new visitors into a paying customer.  There are a lot ways that your information can get taken by the wrong people out there in cyber land.  How can we overcome this?

Build trust, Duh!

There are a number of ways to build trust, but none are more powerful than online reviews.  Using 3^rd party trusted review sources allows you to give your web visitors the confidence that other people regular purchase from and trust your company.  There are a number of review funnels that help get good feedback from your customers and promote more conversions.

Another way to instill confidence in your visitors that they are making the correct decision in choosing you is an SSL Certificate and the proper security badges.  Having an SSL Certificate is key as you are protecting your customer’s private information, but it also gives your customer a comfortable feeling that they can rest assured they are protected.   Upon checkout security seals like McAfee Secure and Verified Authorized.net can give your customers that warm and fuzzy feeling that they are safe purchasing from your website.

GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR PRODUCT PAGE

There is one place where your customer actually clicks on your products and starts down the path of purchase.  Making sure your product page has a clean user-friendly look is of the utmost importance.  High resolution and high quality images of your products will help increase conversions as it is more clear for your customers to make a decision.

Make sure that there that it is easy for your customers to navigate and answer any frequently asked questions.  They aren’t speaking with a customer service rep, but still often times have questions that need to be answered.   Software Ad ons like Snap Engage can even give you the option to chat with a live person if you are able to dedicate staff time to help with online inquiries.

IMPRESS THEM WITH THE DETAILS

Taking the extra time to create engaging discussion of your products is what drives customers to want or need your products.  Make sure that you appeal to emotions and use descriptive language that speaks directly to your customers.   Most customers are looking for products that will either solve a problem or serve to make them happy.

Product specifications are another important aspect for the analytical shopper out there.   Don’t skimp on the features and benefits when painting the products picture.  More often then note companies will entail the help of a professional content writer to get their point across.

DRAW THEM IN WITH SPECIALS AND COUPONS

Have a huge stock of a particular product you are looking to move?  Make a special highlighting this product.  Email drip campaigns with specials, advertisement on the homepage; there are a myriad of ways to entice your customers that now is the perfect time to pull the trigger on that product they have had their eye on.

Free shipping is always a great feeling at check out time.  Offering free shipping on certain products or all products will really help move the needle when it comes time to break out the credit card.

CREATE URGENCY

What happens if I don’t buy now?  If your customers can see that your stock of a certain item is getting low they will often times not want to risk losing the opportunity.  Making it clear what products you have, what products are sold out and the quantity you have them can help be transparent with the opportunity that is presented to them.  Act now or you may lose the opportunity may seem cheesy, but works.

Want to learn more?  Reach out to Shane Bader with Iceberg Web Design.

The post How to Increase E-Commerce Conversions appeared first on Iceberg Web Design.

Optimizing the way in which your customers move through you’re sales process to being a customer is of the utmost importance.  There are many ways that potential customers may get lost while moving through the Sales process.  These are often referred to as cracks in the funnel.  Learning how to plug these cracks will get you the highest return on your marketing dollars.  

1. Don’t Discount the “No” Responses

The biggest mistake you can make with your sales funnel is throwing away the no’s to quickly.  For many sales associates, particularly less experienced ones; being told no can be difficult to process and makes them want to move quickly on to a new fresher lead.  Often times a no actually means “not right now but later”.    There is a lot of information to provide when delivering a pitch and a lot of reasons for a potential customer to say no.  Many times those moments kill the deal at that time, but that doesn’t mean they won’t buy later.   

For instance, a common objection to not wanting to move forward with a website project is that the client doesn’t have enough time right now to get the requested information together and move forward with the project.  Now it may be enticing to forget and move on to a new hotter lead.  There is a better practice to implement than simply giving up.  Create an email campaign to follow up over the next couple of months.  With this campaign you can educate the potential client with information that directly relates to their objection.  This will move them closer to the sale while keeping your name up front and out there when the buying time hits.   Finding what objections you consistently hear and creating email campaigns around education for those objections will greatly minimize this crack in your funnel.

2.  Make Sure You Respond to Leads Quickly

Another reason that you may be losing business through a crack in your sales funnel can be not responding to new leads quick enough.  Studies have shown that a lead is nine times more likely to close if you follow up within 5 minutes.  This is often referred to as “speed to lead”.  When a potential customer express’ interest in a product or service they are looking for information at that time and are ready to interact.  Waiting can provide a wide array of obstacles like moving on to competition or just losing interest.   By automating this process with a personalized email you are able to follow up immediately electronically.  Another solution is staggering your associates appropriately to respond with a call based on peak lead generation times.   Analyzing the data on when leads typically come through and creating a personalized email is key to helping plug this crack in the funnel.  A good CRM can help with the automation process when new leads come through and the follow up on old leads.

3.  Followup, Followup, Followup!

Lack of consistent follow up with new and old leads will often times let potential clients slip away.  Particularly on higher ticket products and services potential clients will not want to close right away.  It is important for sales reps to build and maintain relationships, earning trust over time.  Over time checking in and really getting to know your potential clients pain points will keep sales consistent and moving in the right direction.  It is nice to close the sale right away and move on, but just doing this will allow sales to slip away that need more information.  Closing sales right away and still nurturing the relationships that need time is a proven way to keep the needle moving in the right direction.   

To keep the follow up consistent there should be at least 5 – 12 follow up points within the first 2 months.  Automating an email campaign along with scheduled follow up phone calls will help with this.  By analyzing your follow up patterns and creating a follow up template you can greatly increase the close ratio on old business.   After every phone call try to set a follow up a time for your next phone call and keep educating with your email campaign.  Often potential clients need to be nurtured until they are ready to pull the trigger, as they wouldn’t have asked for info if there weren’t some interest.

By implementing these processes you will be able to minimize the gaps in your sales funnel.   It is of the utmost importance to getting the most out of your new and old contacts and drives the most sales.  

The post 3 Easy Ways to Fix Leaks in your Sales Funnel appeared first on Iceberg Web Design.

In this two-part series, we will talk first about how leads enter your sales funnel and then how you will convert those leads into customers.

Step 1: Entering the Sales Funnel

The top of the funnel is often defined as the awareness stage, where as they are just now becoming familiar with your company, products and/or services. At this point they are typically interacting with your sales and marketing efforts. With these efforts it is important to maintain a consistent message across all levels of their interaction.

Step 2: Customers Take Action and Progress Through the Funnel

During some point in these efforts potential customers will “take action” and reach out in one form or another. Making this easy and seamless is of utmost importance to generating qualified leads that turn into clients. Some customers may want to call directly and talk to a professional. Others may want to fill out a contact form and wait for a call from you. Other times customers will want to walk into your place of business and talk face to face. Advertising these different ways to interact, while advertising the same consistent message is key to the consistent growth of your business.

The lower stages of your funnel are all about the actual sales process they experience. Leads at the middle and lower stages of your funnel are the ones most likely to turn into closed paying clients. These are the potential clients you want your sales representatives interacting directly with as to get the most out of their time.

Keep Your Funnel From Leaking

Minimizing the breaks in the funnel is key to generating consistent revenue for your business. During any point when the sale moves through your funnel, the potential customer can be lost in the cracks for a myriad of reasons. Making sure that you are addressing all of their concerns, explaining the advantages, and moving through the process with consistent messaging will minimize the cracks in your sales funnel. The more granular you focus your stages, the easier it will be to identify where the leaks are happening.

Retargeting To Maintain Interest

One tool that has proven to be a great to recapture and reengage your potential clients is the use of retargeting across multiples mediums. Taking your website as an example. Only 2% of traffic converts for most websites on the first visit.   Strategies involving content marketing, AdWords, and targeted display are great for driving traffic, but they don’t help with conversion.   The design of your Website along with use of retargeting can help get the most of your visits.   Displaying your message and branding across multiple mediums will keep reminding potential customers of what they can gain from your business.  By recapturing their interest it creates another opportunity to reengage you companies sales funnel. There are lots of different tools to retarget and increase your conversions. Building your database of clients that have interacted with your website or ad, it makes it possible to continue to interact with them.

There are two types of retargeting pixel based and list based.   Pixel based is a way to redisplay your information across any anonymous visitor. List based is redisplaying to potential clients that you have gotten their contact information in your database. Moving potential clients along the funnel it is necessary to have good retargeting practices.

Join Us Next Week For Part 2

 In next week’s article, we will be talking about the sales process and turning the leads in your sales funnel into paying customers.

To learn how Iceberg Web Design can help with your sales funnel and retargeting, contact Shane Bader 763-350-8762 or email [email protected].

The post Building Your Sales Funnel and the Use of Retargeting appeared first on Iceberg Web Design.

Amiann is our sales and marketing employee at Iceberg. She joined us in early 2014 and helps to manage our social media sites, works on marketing, networking and sales. Amiann will be graduating with her internet marketing degree this year from the Minnesota School of Business. She has several years of experience in sales and marketing through her different positions as a sales representative, account manager and assistant manager through different companies.

In her free time she enjoys spending time with her two small children Jordan Jr. and Bianca and her fiancé Jordan. As a family they like going to parks in the summer and having family movie nights in the cold winter. Amiann enjoys reading mystery books when she has the time and enjoys making hair bows for her daughter. She looks forward to her upcoming wedding in 2015.

If you’re interested in starting a website project, please contact Amiann at 763-301-0442 or send her an e-mail, [email protected]

The post Welcome to our new Sales & Marketing Employee! appeared first on Iceberg Web Design.

Iceberg Web Design is looking for a fall Sales & Marketing Intern. This internship will give a student or young career seeker real-life experience managing online and direct marketing for our website development company.

As an intern, you will be responsible for developing and implementing a three-month Marketing Strategy, given an advertising and marketing budget. You will gain real life experience by meeting with potential clients, attending networking events, and following up on sales leads. The intern will also receive experience in online marketing by managing multiple social media presences and finding engaging content to share with followers.

Complete position details are available on InternMatch and on our Career Opportunities page.

The post Sales and Marketing Internship Position available appeared first on Iceberg Web Design.

Iceberg Web Design is seeking a motivated individual with sales experience who wants to be part of a fast growing website hosting and development company.  We are looking for someone who is comfortable working independently and as part of a team as an Independent Website Sales Representative.

Iceberg Web Design is a leading website development company located in Anoka, Minnesota.  We specialize in custom website design and work one-on-one with business owners to bring them a professional and effective online presence.  As a Sales Representative, you will be selling website hosting services and custom website development packages.  You will earn a share of revenue from each account you bring in, along with ongoing monthly commission on all website hosting account sales.

• Business cards, marketing and promotional materials provided
• Strong company history, reputation, and portfolio along with name recognition locally

A self-motivated, innovative, service oriented sales professional will consult with small to medium sized business owners about their online advertising and marketing needs. Qualified applicants will be able to handle all aspects of the sales process, including identifying target clients, analyzing a company’s website needs, showcasing Iceberg Web Design’s portfolio and explaining website features, closing the sale, and maintaining customer relationships.

Responsibilities include:

• Identifying prospective clients and working to find leads given specific target markets
• Generating new leads through cold calling, networking, and referrals
• Website hosting and website development sales
• Website design portfolio presentation
• Following up with prospective customers and selling new website features or services to current customers
• Utilize Iceberg’s Project Management software to manage closed sales and communicate project needs

Qualifications & Experience:

• A strong work ethic: self-disciplined and self-motivated
• Ability to work effectively with little or no supervision required
• Outgoing personality with strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Organized, detail-oriented, and excellent time-management skills
• Strong computer skills, internet savvy, and ability to learn new skills with training
• 2 years experience selling advertisement, print, or services preferred

Compensation

• First 6 months commission only income with a scalable commission rate based on number of sales
• Base salary plus commission potential after only 6 months, based on performance review
• Commission paid every two weeks
• Ongoing monthly commission on website hosting sales for as long as you hold a working business relationship with Iceberg Web Design

For consideration, please submit your resume by e-mail to [email protected].

The post We’re Hiring! Independent Sales Representative for a Website Hosting and Design Company appeared first on Iceberg Web Design.