New website program designed to help small businesses survive

OSBURN — With an unprecedented COVID-19 surge predicted and no more financial relief in the pipeline from the government, 2021 could see the ruin of many local small businesses.

But not if a sophisticated, affordable business-boosting program has its way.

Hagadone Media Group is offering website builds or rebuilds at a 25 percent discount for the month of December only.

"The pandemic has forced many consumers to shop for products and services online," said News-Press publisher Keri Alexander. "This is an excellent opportunity if you don't currently have a website, or if your website is older than your mobile phone, it might be time for an update."

Regional publisher and Hagadone Media executive Clint Schroeder emphasized that with in-person business being seriously hurt by the coronavirus and a widely distributed vaccine unlikely until next spring or summer at the earliest, more people than ever are using the internet to find the products and services they need.

"The power of a website gives you the ability to own your traffic, and our team is really excited to help local businesses create this extremely valuable tool," he said. “It makes even more sense for owners because they can use this program as a 2020 business expense for tax purposes.”

Hagadone expert digital strategists Danny Moering stressed that whether the business has a website that needs an upgrade or has no website at all, it’s a mistake to rely only on a Facebook page or other social media to drive business.

"Having a Facebook page is a great start, but then we get into the difference between traffic that you pay for and influence and traffic that you own,” he said. “With Facebook, you don't own the traffic that comes to your page. You're always going to be at the mercy of Facebook. With a website, you can own that traffic. We can build info-capturing devices in your website to obtain a user's email address (as well as other valuable data) to bring them into your business's digital ecosystem. Then you don't have to pay Facebook to try and connect with that user. That's just one of the many benefits of having a well-designed website."

A website build takes on average 4 to 7 weeks, Moering added.

"The power of a website gives you the ability to own your traffic and our team is really excited to help local businesses create this extremely valuable tool," Alexander said.

For more information or a free business consultation, contact Danny Moering, dmoering@hagadonemedia.com, 208-213-7586; or Toby Shell, tshell@hagadonemedia.com, 208-213-7586. If you want to learn more, go to https://hmg-yearendevent.webflow.io/