Green Bay: (920) 826-5901
Marinette: (920) 639-5609
Marquette: (920) 393-3088
Abrams: (920) 826-5901

Holly Jolly Year for Packerland Websites, Thanks to You


Packerland Websites owner Bill Koehne and his wife Joan at GBIG Golf Outing

As we reflect on 2022, the staff of Packerland Websites would like to call attention to what gives us the most satisfaction – giving organizations the strategies and tools they need to reach their goals. We love helping businesses and nonprofits move to the next level. We provide exceptional writing, design, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and ingenuity. Please allow us to do a little bragging.

Managing over 550 websites

The Packerland Websites’ team manages over 550 websites, offering the latest in cybersecurity and web design. We support the business community with memberships in five Chambers of Commerce. These include Pulaski, Green Bay, Oconto, Oconto Falls, and Peshtigo and the Howard Suamico Business Association. Owner Bill Koehne serves on the Oconto Falls Chamber Board of Directors. He understands the challenges of operating a business. Before opening Packerland Websites, he co-founded and co-owned a multi-million-dollar home construction company.

Supporting nonprofits with reduced prices

Packerland Websites’ prices are fair and competitive. Plus, nonprofit organizations get the VIP treatment, with up to half-price discounts. Additionally, Packerland Websites greatly reduces hosting fees for nonprofits. On occasion, Packerland Websites waives hosting fees altogether. It’s just another way to give back to the community. Packerland Websites is a proud supporter of Artists for the Humanities, Society for Faith and Children’s Education, Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc., the Volunteer Center of Brown County, and other nonprofits.

Active in Business & Professional Organizations

Bill is a 30-year member of the Brown County Home Builders Association, having served on the Showcase of Homes committee and other BCHBA committees. He also serves on the board of Green Bay Innovation Group. GBIG is a Northeast Wisconsin business-to-business consortium of manufacturing and converting companies and supporting industries. 

Serving the community

In addition to his professional affiliations, Bill is president of Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc., a local community theater organization. Most recently, Bill was assistant director for “White Christmas” and performed as Harry the Horse in “Guys and Dolls.” He helped organize the Green Bay Walleyes for Tomorrow fundraiser for many years and serves as committee chairman for Windjammers Sailing Club. At St. Pius Catholic Church, Bill is a music minister, Eucharistic minister, and lector who volunteers at Anchor of Hope TEC youth retreats. He’s a busy guy who’s committed to his faith, family, and community.

As Packerland Websites concludes its 11th year in business, we’re thankful for all of the businesses and nonprofits that helped make us who we are today. We appreciate your loyalty and trust in 2022 and look forward to serving you all in 2023. Happy New Year!


$10 Security Upgrade: Protect Your Website from Cyberattack


Do you know the signs of a hacked website?

A padlock at a computer keyboard to highlight security from cyberattack
  • Your online password isn’t working, so you can’t login
  • You receive emails about login attempts, password resets, and two-factor authentication codes that you didn’t request
  • You notice plugin-ins, add-ons, or links that don’t belong on your webpages
  • Your website “crashed,” and you can’t view it – and neither can your customers

After effects of a Cyberattack

Small businesses are vulnerable to cybercrime. When a website goes down because of a
cyberattack, visitors can no longer interact with your business online. Your reputation suffers,
and your audience may look elsewhere for the goods and services they need. Especially for
websites that have daily visitors, any amount of downtime is unacceptable.

Cybersecurity Measures

At Packerland Websites, we understand the importance of secure, fully functional websites that
represent your brand 24/7/365. That’s why we have so many cybersecurity measures in place
to protect against hackers and maintain visitors’ confidence in your organization. Packerland
Websites’ full security suite locks and defends the doors and windows to websites.

Upgraded & Premium Security

For even greater peace of mind, we highly recommend the Upgraded Security and Premium
Security options. We believe that cybersecurity is worth the upfront cost to prevent malicious
attacks that disrupt business and potentially put sensitive information at risk. Upgraded
Security and Premium Security are optional monthly enhancements added to your website.
These are separate from standard hosting. Upgraded Security and Premium Security add an
alarm, extra protection, and system recovery if a website is hacked. Details are at:
https://packerlandwebsites.com/our-services/website-design/a-la-carte-and-security/

Special Deals for Clients

We offer clients special pricing at $10/month for Upgraded Security and $15/month for
Premium Security. Normally, the plans are $14.99/month and $19.99 /month respectively, and
renewals are $29.99/month for Premium, plus the labor to install. By keeping the cost at $10
or $15 a month and not charging for labor, we help our clients improve their cybersecurity
without a high price tag.

Uptime & Peace of Mind

A website is the heart of your business. Your website showcases your brand and your amazing
products and services. Thus, your website deserves to be protected with all of the tools
available to keep business operations humming. Contact us today, 920-826-5901, to activate

Upgraded Security or Premium Security. Extra cybersecurity leads to reliable uptime for your
website and peace of mind for you.


We’re a Top Digital Marketing Agency in Green Bay!


We have been selected as one of the Best Digital Marketing Agencies in Green Bay, Wisconsin area by expertise.com.

They use public databases and customer referrals to check availability and service areas. Selection was based upon our primary area of expertise, the variety of services we offer, and years of experience.

It is on the “Best Digital Marketing Agencies in Green Bay” lists for 2022.

best digital marketing agencies in green bay 2022 award image

How It’s Built Matters: 8 Website Building Essentials


Packerland Websites team enjoy a break from website building
The team of Packerland Websites enjoy a break from website building.

So, you want to bring your dream website to life. When choosing a website building company, not only do you want a great value but also a functional, professional-looking website. With so many website builders to choose from, finding the right partner isn’t always an easy decision. At Packerland Websites, we know the ins and outs of website development. Thus, clients get a great-looking, user-friendly website they are proud to show off. To meet our clients’ objectives, we design websites with these eight important elements.

Navigation

Packerland Websites creates a clear, intuitive path for visitors to follow. We focus on the User Interface (UI) – how visitors interact with a website. We take traffic where you want it to go.

Responsive, mobile-friendly design

Packerland Websites builds websites on the WordPress platform, which automatically resizes for different devices for easy viewing and interaction. Visitors can touch, scroll, and tap to interact with the website because the site is built on a responsive platform.

Concepts of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA)

Packerland Websites incorporates many elements from Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). WCAG is part of a series of web accessibility guidelines published by the Web Accessibility Initiative of the World Wide Web Consortium, the main international standards organization for the internet. In addition to IDEA concepts, Packerland Websites incorporates many elements that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Options are available for full website audits along with bringing websites up to full compliance upon request.

Optimized with SEO best practices

Packerland Websites includes a wide range of SEO techniques in its website design. To inspire Google to recommend the website to your target audience, we incorporate the following on-site SEO techniques:

  • Unique text – We recommend 250-400 words per page. Our team provides professionally written content as requested.
  • Keywords – We use the appropriate keyword density, based on keywords a potential visitor would type when searching for your type of business
  • Optimized website elements – We add tags, page titles, page descriptions and other behind-the-scenes SEO elements
  • Blog/news articles – We offer blogging services. Blogs add keywords and new text to a website, increasing the opportunity to appear in search results

Additionally, we incorporate the following off-site SEO techniques:

  • Claim your Google My Business profile
  • Optimize your Google My Business profile with accurate information, photos, reviews
  • Submit the business’ name, address, and phone number to online directories like Yelp, Bing, MapQuest
  • Generate incoming links to your website from outside sources like videos you post on YouTube, which is owned by Google.

Social Media Integration

Packerland Websites integrates social media channels into the design. News and information can be easily carried to social media from the website. In turn, social media drives traffic back to the website.

Applicable Content Imported

Packerland Websites developed techniques to quickly and efficiently import content from the current website to a new website.

Ecommerce Solutions

Packerland Websites has built over 20 ecommerce solutions for clients, and has a platform that is far superior to Shopify. Our platform hosts the store on independent, high-security servers. Aside from the added layers of security, the store’s speed, performance, and options are better than Shopify’s. The store is easy to manage, especially with the one-to-one training that Packerland Websites provides.
The ecommerce system we recommend offers a built-in merchant system for security and convenience. Additional ecommerce benefits:

  • Accepts multiple payment types including PayPal, Square, Stripe, and more
  • Includes automatic shipping options and calculations
  • Calculates taxes automatically
  • Includes desirable marketing features like “If you like this, you may also like…”
  • Enables users to control inventory
  • Gathers customer information to be used in future communications
  • Allows for options with price modifiers. An example is a T-shirt in five colors and five sizes. This is still only one product with 25 options. The seller can charge different prices for varying sizes.

Style Guidelines

Packerland Websites manages over 500 websites, each with its own style guidelines. Our team collaborates with clients to follow the appropriate graphic standards and guidelines.

Website Building for Your Dream Website

With over 11 years of experience building websites and 500 clients, Packerland Websites has the capability to accomplish our clients’ objectives. We have the talent, time, and operational structures to accommodate their needs. Packerland Websites establishes the design, functionality, and features that our clients request to bring their dream websites to life. Visit our Portfolio to see examples of our work. To learn about the parts of a website, read more.


Websites: The Swiss Army Knife of Marketing


Websites are swiss army knife of marketing

A website is more than just a brochure on the internet. Way more! Think of a website as a marketing multi-tool. You know, like the handy-dandy multi-tool that’s a screwdriver, box cutter, spork, and hex wrench all-in-one. Your website should be the Swiss Army Knife of marketing. A website is a fantastically useful tool.

Employee magnet

A well-designed website is a kick-butt recruitment tool, giving recruits a reason to choose you. Companies can demonstrate their amazing company culture with graphics, photos, articles, and videos. Easy-to-follow page navigation leads to online applications. Job descriptions are posted in real time and managed with just a few clicks of the mouse. As employees join the organization, production increases – and the website pays for itself.

Telephone operator

That tiny telephone icon is a big, powerful tool on a website. Communication doesn’t get much simpler than this! Customers tap the one-touch phone icon on your Home page, and your phone starts ringing. A well-designed website resizes for smart phones, so viewers can easily navigate the site and read webpages. Then, with a quick tap of the phone icon, they’re talking to you. This could be the start of a beautiful, profitable relationship.

Beacon

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) lights the way for customers to find you. SEO is the process of making your website show up on search engine listings like Google. You might have the greatest product in the world, but without exposure, your product just sits on the shelf. Today’s consumers look for everything online. So, help them find their way to you with powerful SEO embedded in your website.

Welcome mat

Roll out the welcome mat to your doorstep! Invite your online viewers to visit your location in person. Websites are a terrific complement to brick-and-mortar businesses. To help consumers find you, display your street address prominently and publish a map showing your locations.

Cash register

Online shopping is booming, especially since COVID-19 shifted demand from in-person shopping to ecommerce. Ecommerce stores provide flexibility, affordability, visibility, and security for sellers. The beauty of an ecommerce website is its third-party payment system. Sales transactions are fully integrated into the website and offer the same level of security of a bank.

Encyclopedia

A website represents your brand 24/7. The images, videos, and text tell your story, and more importantly, tell the story of your clients. By putting your clients in the center of the story, you place them in the hero role. Once you get their attention, they’ll want to know more about you and the solutions you provide. Like an encyclopedia, a website provides critical information to your audience.

Your Website is a Medley of Marketing Features

Gee whiz! Who knew there was so much going on with a website? Like the surprising capabilities of a multi-tool, a website is a medley of marketing features. While a website won’t loosen a screw or slice through a tomato, a well-developed website will lead its audience to act. Website visitors will call, stop in, request a quote, or purchase a product online. Now that’s a handy-dandy way to grow a business.

Free Internet Health Checkup

Ready to create your own magic multi-tool of marketing? Get started with a FREE internet health check up (normally a $199 value). The Packerland Websites team will review and make recommendations regarding your website, SEO, directory listings, and Google account. To schedule an internet health checkup, email Team@PackerlandWebsites.com and type “Checkup” in the subject line.


5 Big Changes for Prize Winning, Upgraded Website


It feels good to lend a helping hand – just ask the thousands of volunteers in Brown County. Likewise, it feels good for Packerland Websites to lend a helping hand. To recognize the important work of nonprofit organizations, Packerland Websites gave away a free website in its Give Back to Nonprofits contest. The Volunteer Center of Brown County won the contest, and the center’s upgraded website is live.

Upgraded website for volunteer centerVolunteer Center Impacts the Community

Volunteers are the heart of a community, and the Volunteer Center  matches over 10,000 volunteers with Green Bay-area nonprofits every year. Talk about making a big impact in the Green Bay community! The Volunteer Center wanted an efficient, effective way to share information with volunteers and nonprofit partners.  Mission accomplished!

Upgraded Website is Appealing & Effective

“The new website is not only aesthetically appealing but it allows for quicker response times and the ability for people to get the information they need in an efficient manner,” said Ruth Paquin, of the Volunteer Center.Ruth worked with Miranda Schlise-Gomez, one of Packerland Websites’ developers, to create a user-friendly website.

“Miranda was great to work with,” Ruth said. “She was knowledgeable, creative, and responsive to our needs. Our new website had a lot of components to integrate from our old site, and she formulated ways to do this efficiently.”

5 Big Changes for the Upgraded Website

Here’s a closer look at the Volunteer Center’s upgraded website.

  • Modern Look – Visually appealing pages invite visitors to browse and take action. To modernize the front page, Packerland Websites changed the small image rotator into an eye-catching full-screen image.
  • Well-Organized Pages – User-friendly site navigation helps visitors find what they need with ease. Packerland Websites streamlined site navigation in several ways. First, we removed nonessential pages from the website’s main navigation page. Next, we formatted the nonessential pages as posts. Finally, we categorized the posts to make them easy to find.
  • Faster Load Speed – A website that opens quickly serves as a welcome mat for visitors. Essentially, a quick-loading website says, “Come on in. We’re happy you’re here!” To ensure the website will load as fast as possible, Packerland Websites hosts the website on a fast, local server. Additionally, we optimized photos and streamlined site navigation for a quick upload.
  • Upgrade website to WordPress – WordPress is the platform of choice for Packerlands’ websites. Previously, the Volunteer Center had little control over site files and content on Wix. With WordPress, the center owns its site files. Files are readily available for backups, moves, and changes. After being trained by the Packerland Websites staff, the Volunteer Center has the know-how and freedom to shape its website.
  • Improve Brand Presence by Blogging – The Volunteer Center uses its blog to tell its story, thereby branding and advertising its organization. Blog articles are shared on the organization’s social networks, and the links lead back to the upgraded website. This increases website traffic. As a result, more people will know about the Volunteer Center and how it helps the community.

Creative Way to Promote Volunteerism

Nonprofit wins upgraded website“Being a small nonprofit, we understand the need for effective branding and awareness,” Ruth said. “Packerland Websites has been instrumental in providing us a creative and visually appealing outlet to assist our partners.”

Packerland Websites’ owner Bill Koehne said the upgraded website has far-reaching impact. Because the Volunteer Center works with 180 nonprofits, the new website creates a ripple effect.

“We’re not just helping a single nonprofit organization but also a community of nonprofits. That’s exciting for us,” Bill said.


Are you an Edutainer?


Edutainment
Edutainment is not a misspelling or even a made-up word. You may have figured out already that it is a combination of education and entertainment. This is what most bloggers and many websites should be doing.

Television help to popularize the word as early as 1948 in describing shows that incorporated educational content or messages. You could probably go back a couple thousand years or more and look at the telling of parables.

As relevant as it was back then to engage listeners, it remains even more so today. Through a combination of both educating and entertaining we successfully engage our visitors. This helps to convert them to customers. I call it the three E’s of the Internet marketing.

The next time you perform a search on the Internet or visit a site, pay attention to why you went there. I bet it was not to find a sales pitch or commercial, but to be educated or entertained.

So, what is the bottom line? Become an Internet “Edutainer” and witness the engagement and growth of your blog, social media or website grow.


Examples of Blogs being used as a news engine or data base.


Here are some sites where we have used blog formats for their own news source engine.

Oconto Falls homepage previewHere is an example of it being a news source for a Oconto Falls Area Chamber of Commerce.

Here is an example of using it as a database for displaying members of a group.

Very Cool!


RSS, Really Simple Syndication feed


Another cool feature with the use of this tool is that you can create an RSS, Really Simple Syndication feed. It is a feed format that publishes your posts and updates. RSS feeds can be read using software called readers: RSS reader or feed reader.

It allows a subscriber to monitor and receive updated feeds from your site. It can also be used a new source. Other websites can import your news and display it on their sites. With an RSS feed you site can become very public.

I have built a number of websites that we have adapted this feed to be used for personal site strategies besides just a news engine.

It could be site specific for updating things like club updates, organizational newsletters, league details, teasers that update home pages and more.

This site has its own RSS feed at https://packerlandwebsites.com/BillsBlog/?feed=rss2


Use of a Blog


A blog post is more then a diary. It becomes a source of public information.

If you think about Facebook, it is really a personal blog with cool features with an added benefit of you choosing who to share with. Take it to another level and it can compliment a website, become a content management tool, act as a database or be an entire website on its own.

Another cool feature is being able to add links and other forms of multimedia as simple as a photo and so much more.

Here is a shot taken at Lambeau field this year. It was on a tour with my BNI Green Bay Founders group.

 

It was a great time.

Green Bay

2140 Velp Ave. Suite 101
Green Bay, WI 54303

Phone: (920) 826-5901

Abrams

5406 Mary Ct
Abrams, WI 54101

Phone: (920) 826-5601

Marinette

844 Pierce Ave. Suite 101
Marinette, WI 54143

Phone: (920) 639-5609

Marquette

101 W Washington Ave. Suite 8
Marquette, MI 49855

Phone: (920) 393-3088

Conference Room 1 Conference Room 2 Conference Room 3
Conference Room 4 Conference Room 5 Conference Room 6

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