Unlock the Secret to Making Money with Email Newsletter Campaigns

This week, a client sent me an awesome story with photos and graphics. It was the organization’s monthly newsletter, and it was slick. But I think my client is missing a golden opportunity to get more bang for their buck. Why not publish the article, photos and graphics on their website as blog articles? Then, they can shorten the newsletter a lot and add a Read More button to take the reader to their website for the full story. This is how email marketing makes you money. They drive traffic to your website when conversions happen.

Advantages of website blog posts vs. stand-alone email campaigns:

The newsletter articles, photos, and graphics become archived stories. Anyone who visits your website can enjoy the content. The content isn’t just for the newsletter subscribers.
The articles, photos, and graphics show what you are about, rather than just telling what you are about.
Better user engagement and experience. Blog stories help visitors identify with you, your products and services which can increase conversion rates of sales
Terrific keyword density for Google ranking

Increasing the Open Rate

People don’t always have time to read a long story. Oftentimes, they like to scan more than read. If they read a summary and the topic interests them, they can click a link to read the full story. If the topic doesn’t interest them, they know they didn’t spend a lot of time checking it out. When they see the next email, they are likely to open it again, knowing they can scan the topics. This strategy increases the open rate for email campaigns.

A Newsletter as a Mini-Me Website

Imagine this: Instead of having people search for your website, you email a mini-me of your website to them. The design incorporates your website’s colors, logo, and branding. Navigation buttons link directly to your website. Readers who aren’t interested in your articles may be interested in something they see in the navigation menu instead. They might contact you about a product or service you offer that’s unrelated to the email marketing. Clickable buttons/links at the top of a newsletter make it easy to get in touch.

Free Email Template, Blog & Mentoring

The best part is that a blog and newsletter template cost nothing:

Packerland Websites includes a free blog with every website we develop
Our team offers free mentoring to recommend ways to leverage the blog
If Packerland Websites manages your Constant Contact account, Constant Contact will build a template as a free courtesy. The template drives traffic to your website and boosts open rates.

The Constant Contact Email Platform

The primary purpose of marketing content is to educate, inform, and entertain. Newsletters promote your brand and drive traffic to your website. We recommend using Constant Contact as your email campaign platform. Constant Contact enables you to create, personalize, send, and track email campaigns. We have used this email marketing platform for years. It’s easy to design an email, upload contacts, and divide contacts into various lists. To indicate reader engagement, Constant Contact reports the open rate, click rate, and other statistics. Some Constant Contact subscriptions also enable you to see who clicked on which articles, so you can follow up.

Contact Us to Manage Your Email Campaign

If you don’t have the resources internally to manage email campaigns, Packerland Websites offers this marketing service. Contact us to see samples of our work and email results. Our engagement results consistently exceed industry standards. Turn clicks into cash by leveraging email marketing campaigns to the fullest.

2024 Faith That Works: Website business owner values opportunities to help nonprofits

By Jeff Kurowski | On Mission

Bill Koehne and Mike — **Photo by Scott Eastman**

Originally published in On Mission magazine. Reprinted with permission.

Bill Koehne, owner of Packerland Websites, offers a twist on the proverb about teaching a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

“How do I help the organization that’s helping someone else? Instead of being the one who teaches someone how to fish, I want to supply the bait to the teacher,” he said about building websites for nonprofits at reduced rates.

“We have like 70 or 80 nonprofits. I bleed a little bit when we bill them,” he said. “My account manager tells me, ‘You’re giving it away.’ One of the highlights of my business is not only how do you help your businesses, but how do you help your community through the nonprofits. If your business is based upon helping people, I believe that naturally leads to a lot of success.”

Packerland Websites donates more than $70,000 of in-kind services to nonprofits each year, he said.

Koehne credits his upbringing for his foundation of faith and passion to help others. He grew up as a member of St. Pius Parish in Little Suamico.

“I moved all the way to Abrams, like two miles away from where I grew up,” he said about his current home. “It’s nice because I get over to see Mom (Pat) and Dad (Bill) at least three days a week.”

Koehne’s paternal grandparents lived in the same household during his childhood.

“The faith sharing was from the grandparents down,” he said.

Koehne left home for high school to attend St. Lawrence Seminary in Mount Calvary, Wis., a ministry of the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph.

He fondly recalled a powerful outreach opportunity as a student.

“One of the expectations was to visit a nursing home at least on a monthly basis,” he said. “You are visiting those who don’t have family or friends. You’re visiting the loneliest people. When you’re 15 years old, it makes a bit of an impression on you. It makes you think about how you want to live your life.”

Koehne’s high school experience didn’t lead to a religious vocation, but he learned the value of formation during those years.

He recalled the words that then Green Bay Bishop Aloysius Wycislo shared with him.

“(Bishop Wycislo) said, ‘You know you can be a witness about Christ to people without having to wear a collar.’ I waited four years. ‘Here I am God. What do you want me to do?’ It made sense years later,” said Koehne. “I was getting molded those four years of my life.”

Koehne studied business administration at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, which is where he met his wife, Joan, who is from Luxemburg.

His first business venture was with his father for 25 years at Ark Homes.

‘When the housing market went south, I transitioned to building websites (2009),” he said. “The construction business has given me perspective on the business world. When I build a website, it’s not, ‘How do I build a brochure?’ It’s, ‘Where do we take you on the Internet highway?’ because I can speak business owner to business owner.”

Koehne is active at St. Pius Parish as a lector and extraordinary minister of holy Communion. He was also the parish treasurer for 20 years. In that role, he secured funding for the construction of six classrooms in the basement of the parish hall. He also helped design and manage the construction of a bell tower.

He and Joan, who have two grown children and a grandson, are involved in music ministry at St. Pius and St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Sobieski.

“Joan is a fantastic keyboardist. I play the guitar and sing in the choir,” he said. “I can just fall in with the guitar and follow her lead.”

Koehne’s involvement outside the parish includes serving at Anchor of Hope TEC (Together Encountering Christ) retreats and serving as president of the board of directors for Abrams Spotlight Productions.

Sailing and mountain climbing are among his other interests. This year he traveled to Peru and conquered the Inca Trail to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu.

Koehne said he’s grateful for the influences of his father; his late paternal grandfather, Henry; and his late uncle and godfather, Fred Koehne.

The late Fr. Gordon Gilsdorf, who served at St. Pius Parish, was an important faith model, he said. “He was my inspiration to go to St. Lawrence Seminary,” he said. “One of Fr. Gilsdorf’s sayings was, ‘Ask yourself, where does God want me right now? If you can say right here, you’re not doing too bad.’ That has stuck with me.”

Website Evolution: From Fish Tale to High-Function

Marketing evolution in website development

Twenty-five years ago, I created my first website, Fishing With Bill, to showcase my passion for walleye fishing and promote my tournament sponsors. Since that time, I have witnessed an astonishing evolution in website development and digital marketing. In today’s competitive marketplace, a website isn’t a novelty anymore. Successful businesses and nonprofits understand the value of their digital presence. They know that a website is a key to increasing sales, building customer loyalty, and establishing brand recognition. Today, business and nonprofit leaders operate in a world of emerging artificial intelligence (Stay Ahead in SEO: Strike a Balance with AI-generated Content) and user-friendly, do-it-yourself website development options. It’s tempting to put on a “website developer’s hat” and think you can build the same website as a marketing company can build.

Websites Fulfill Their Marketing Potential

However, a website that’s simple to build is like an attractive cover on a book. While the book cover may look fantastic, the story inside may be a real dud. The same goes for websites. Thinking you’ll achieve exceptional marketing results, no matter what website developer, written content, or web platform you use, is an illusion. Webpages that aren’t built to attract visitors or get Google’s attention will fall short of their marketing potential. A website that’s “just OK” will achieve results that are “just OK.”

Modern, High-Functioning Marketing Tools

Will your business or nonprofit settle for a mediocre website that’s good enough? Or do you want a powerful, effective marketing tool that reaches your audience, makes you money, and builds your brand’s credibility? As a professional website developer since 2011, Packerland Websites has developed hundreds of modern, high-functioning marketing tools that lead to success.

Interactive, Optimized WordPress Websites

Instead of just a brochure on the internet, websites should be more interactive. Building an interactive website requires advanced design skills, especially on the “back end” of the website that visitors don’t see. Plus, a website should be easy to find. The WordPress websites we build have exceptional built-in search engine optimization (SEO) capabilities. SEO techniques help our clients rank on Google search engine results pages. Getting found in a crowded, competitive online marketplace is challenging. Yet it’s the first step to bringing visitors to your website where they can interact with your brand.

Versatile & Secure E-Commerce

Many companies want to create websites to sell their products online. Professionally developed e-commerce websites can exponentially expand your sales territory. Don’t miss out on easy sales with an inferior e-commerce store! A versatile, secure, and easy-to-manage e-commerce store doesn’t just happen. E-commerce websites require an attention to detail that only an experienced website developer can provide.

Accessibility for People with Disabilities

Accessibility is another factor to consider when designing a website. In addition to the obvious features like ramps, elevators, and closed captioning, the Americans with Disabilities Act also covers websites. Following ADA guidelines gives people with disabilities the same opportunities as everyone else to engage with your website. (ADA Compliance for Websites: Stay Accessible and Out of Court).

Customer Service & Support

The final factor to consider in modern website development is the support available after a website is launched. At Packerland Websites, we take this customer service very seriously. We provide complimentary training and tutorials, enabling clients to update their websites with ease. For complex updates, clients can submit a support ticket to have their issue resolved within a week. Plus, they can call our offices in Green Bay, Wisconsin, or Marquette, Michigan, to talk with a native English-speaking website developer. Businesses and nonprofits with a DIY or AI-created website certainly don’t receive this level of customer service.

Contact Packerland Websites Today

Yes, it really matters who builds your website. Success hinges on the expertise of the developers and the advanced digital marketing tools they use. Our college-trained website developers create websites as tools to accomplish your specific goals. For a powerful, effective website, contact us today.

Explore the All-New Packerland Websites: Redefining Online Presence

Have you heard about the cobbler whose children never had new shoes? Well, Packerland Websites didn’t want to be like that shoe maker. So, we launched a redesigned website in 2024. Bill Koehne, owner of Packerland Websites, wanted to achieve several goals with a new site.

“I wanted an up-to-date look, and I wanted to convey a more accurate description of what we do. Too often people with websites think, ‘I got a website already’ or ‘My website is good enough.’ That thought process is not what leads to success,” Bill said.

Packerland Websites wants to be the first website developer to be called when a business or nonprofit needs a website or Search Engine Optimization (SEO). A website redesign helps us achieve this goal.

Packerland Websites old website front page

Packerland Websites new website front page

Website Redesign Project Deliverables

Create a website that resonates with the target audience: small to mid-sized businesses and nonprofit organizations in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and beyond

Focus on Internet solutions that provide a return on investment versus just an internet brochure

Differentiate ourselves from other website and SEO companies

Show how a website built by team of professionals differs from a do-it-yourself website

Emphasize the benefits of working with people in the U.S. (not overseas) who possess extensive marketing and design experience

Show up-to-date photos of our team, so visitors can see who they can contact for websites, domain names, and Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Enhance the look of the Home page with fresh elements, text, movement, and images

Wow viewers with samples of our work by revamping the Portfolio page

New Website Features

Up-to-date Design

Packerland Websites’ updated web makes an instant impression. The vibrant new look of the Home page creates a welcoming feeling. Content stands out, without overwhelming the viewer. Our developers maintained the user-friendly features from the previous website, like a chatbot, easy-to-navigate pages, and one-click dialing. To personalize the website, we published up-to-date photos of the Packerland Websites team. Plus, movement on the Home page adds interest as text and photos slide into place. On the inside pages, viewers find interesting interactive phone/desktop focus blocks featuring samples of our work.

Content Marketing

Paragraphs, headings, and subheadings are originally written by our staff writer. Text is conversational, informational, and optimized for human visitors and search engine ranking. The updated written content and keywords are consistent with our current branding and messaging. We added an Our Approach page under the About Us tab. Our Approach describes how the team provides values to clients. Plus, the webpage gives visitors an overview of what to expect when they work with us. The Our Approach page talks about the strategies that differentiate us from other web companies or DIY options.

Packerland Websites new approach page in frame

Design Standards

Packerland Websites focuses on the functionality of a website, assuring the website performs at its bestand is user-friendly. Our developers follow the latest tech guidance. They keep up-to-date with Google’s standards for performance, accessibility, best practices, and SEO. It took some work and custom coding to make this happen, but the results are worth it. Technology is always changing, and our team changes right along with it.

Phone Numbers

“Shop local” is more than just a quaint saying. It’s what keeps small businesses open. We want visitors to know that we are a local business serving Green Bay, Abrams, and Marinette, Wisconsin, and Marquette, Michigan. So, we published the four city locations with contact numbers on top of the pages. With mobile-first design, viewers on cellphones can use one-click dialing to call us. Advances in technology allow us to work with clients from across the U.S. We aren’t limited to Wisconsin and Michigan.

Multiple-Pin Map

On the Contact Page, our developers added a custom element: a multiple-pin Google map. This map directs visitors to our locations in Green Bay and Marinette, Wisconsin, and Marquette, Michigan. The map shows visitors where our offices are located. Packerland Websites is more than just a one-man show. We meet with customers at a variety of convenient locations, by phone, or online.

Packerland Websites new map feature with pins for each location

Portfolio Page

As a website development company, one of our main selling tools is our portfolio. The portfolio gives potential clients a look at our work. This portfolio is a great way to “show” instead of “tell” clients what kind of results they can expect with us.

Since we serve a wide range of industries, we wanted to include enough samples to show the breadth of our work and experience. Before the page was rebuilt, the team created a list of websites that we’re especially proud of. We also created a list of special features that improve the usability for our clients. Since we now host about 600 websites, our list of favorite websites was quite long. So, when we redesigned the portfolio, we considered a few strategies to divide the page and make it more inviting to explore.

In addition to images of websites that link to the live website address, we added feature blocks throughout that page to spotlight some of our best work. Our developers created an image slider that allows users to compare a client’s old website design to the new design we created.

We also wrote a case study on one of our website projects to bring attention to the improvements we made to website content, layout, and navigation. With these changes, we transformed our portfolio page from a simple image gallery into a functioning sales and marketing tool.

Website Design Process

By redesigning the website, we have a more powerful and effective tool to reach our audience, small- to mid-sized businesses and nonprofits. One of our favorite features on the website is the photo of our team. We had fun getting together for the photo, and the image shows a bit of our corporate culture. Truly, the people who work at Packerland Websites are the heart of the organization. We serve clients through our creativity, design skills, and professionalism. Our knowledgeable, personal, and reliable support outperforms those for websites built by large corporations or DIY. Packerland Websites understands the joys and challenges of running a small businesses or nonprofit. Let us help you achieve an outstanding ROI with a new website and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Contact us today.

Nonmobile Websites Get a Flat Tire in New Google Ranking Process

“My website has gone missing!” a business owner recently told me. “I don’t see it anywhere on Google when I search for it. How are people going to find me now?” This business owner was obviously concerned about being dropped from search engine rankings.

Google Migrates to Mobile Indexing

So, why did this business’ website suddenly drop off the Google ranking list? Simple answer: The website wasn’t mobile responsive. On July 5, 2024, Google migrated to mobile indexing for Google Search. As a result, Google stopped indexing websites that are not accessible on mobile devices.

woman with mobile device checks google ranking

Mobile-Responsive Websites are Ranking

Here’s some background. Google Search uses Googlebot, a smartphone tool, to crawl mobile-responsive websites. The Googlebot indexes and ranks websites based on this process. Google Search exclusively indexes websites with content that resizes for smartphones, laptops, and tablets. If your website isn’t accessible on mobile devices, your website is no longer indexable. Therefore, Google no longer is ranking your website, either.

Consumers Consult Search Engines

Dropping out of Google ranking certainly is concerning, because Google is the king of search engines. People search online for everything these days. Typically, they search Google ranking more often than Yahoo, Bing, or other search engines to find the products and services they seek. That’s why a well-built, mobile-friendly website isn’t just a luxury for today’s small businesses. Mobile-compatible websites are a necessity!

Packerland Websites Optimizes for Google Search

Packerland Website optimizes websites with industry-leading digital marketing tools and practices. Beginning in 2013, we incorporated mobile compatibility into every website we built. A website with a mobile-friendly design resizes and reformats to fit any screen. Users with a smartphone, tablet or other mobile device can easily navigate and read webpages. Additionally, with one-touch dialing, users can press a button to call a business or nonprofit. So convenient! They also can click on an address to view a Google map – leading them to your doorstep.

Contact Us for Mobile-Compatible Websites

The time has come and gone to upgrade all websites that don’t resize for mobile devices. Contact us today to get started on a mobile-responsive website designed to achieve your goals. Our websites are more than just a business card on the internet. Instead, our websites act as tools to accomplish specific goals, like a Swiss Army Knife of Marketing.

Intern Gains Design Experience at Packerland Websites

Alexis Lonzo is expanding her knowledge of website design as a summer intern with Packerland Websites, 2140 Velp Ave., Green Bay. Packerland Websites is a website, branding and internet specialist helping clients obtain maximum digital marketing exposure. Lonzo works closely with the Packerland Websites’ developers to build and update websites.

Learning About Website Design

“Overall, l’m learning the do’s and don’ts of website design,” Lonzo said. “The team has been great answering my questions and teaching me different steps of the process. I feel like everyone on the team has been very helpful and wants me to succeed.”

Producing Meaningful Work as an Intern

Bill Koehne, owner of Packerland Websites, said he is excited to offer Alexis real and meaningful work as a summer intern.

“Alexis already has a grasp of website design from her UW-Milwaukee classes, but now she’s putting that knowledge to work,” Koehne said. “She’s learning from our developers and is producing some great designs. Her writing skills and creative background make her a perfect fit for website design.”

Earning a Certificate in Web Development

Lonzo, of Suamico, is a 2022 Bayport High School graduate who attends the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She plans to graduate in May 2026 with a certificate in Web Development. She also is studying Journalism, Advertising and Media Studies, with a double emphasis in Journalism and Advertising.

Designing Websites & Pleasing Clients

Alexis said she is unsure of her career path after graduation, but she is leaning more toward web development based on the response she is receiving from clients during her internship.

“I really enjoy getting client feedback, and it makes me happy when the client loves their finished site,” she said.

Contact Us for Website Services

Packerland websites offers a family of website products such as hosting, domain names, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), blogs, and content writing. To learn about website development or internship opportunities with Packerland Websites, contact Koehne at 920-826-5901.

From Concept to Creation: An Inside Look at Our Website Design Strategy

Bill and Joan Koehne talk about website design at Green Bay Chamber meeting

At Packerland Websites, we believe that building a website should be easy and low-stress. Since opening in 2011, Packerland Websites has fine-tuned its website design strategy to streamline the process. Clients appreciate how easy it is to provide input and direction and then sit back and watch their website come to life. Here’s a glimpse into our website design process. Our collegiately trained developers implement this process in every website we build.

Utilizing a Checklist to Guide Design

Website design begins with the client completing a checklist of key elements to include in the design. Clients have an opportunity to describe features, colors and styles they want for their new website. They upload basic website elements, like photos and logos, to the checklist document. Additionally, they provide contact information, a Call to Action, domain name, and keywords they want incorporated into the text. They define the audience they want to reach and goals they want to accomplish. For example, they may want to add a new feature or functionality to a new website. Or they simply may want to update the design, fonts, and colors to appeal to their audience. The checklist acts as a guide to our content writer and team of developers, so they can create a website that accomplishes the client’s goals.

Incorporating Brand & Optimal User Experience

The Packerland Websites team creates the functionality, look, and “feel” that meet the client’s objectives. The team incorporates clients’ brand image and messaging, maintaining clients’ graphic standards and guidelines. In addition, the developers determine the best user experience, designing a website to be engaging, informative, and intuitive. Packerland Websites develops websites on a live URL, hidden from search engines. Thus, clients can view, track progress, and add direction during website development.

Launching the New Website & Training Editors

Lastly, Packerland Websites launches the website and facilitates the cutover from the current website to the new website. The team provides one-on-one training, so website editors are comfortable updating and maintaining their much-improved, new website.

A Partnership for Efficient Website Development

The efficient development of a website requires an ongoing partnership between Packerland Websites and our clients. Together, we set milestones, goals, and objectives needed to achieve a successful outcome. View our Portfolio of website design samples, and contact us to get started on yours.

Recent BCHBA Scam Puts Focus on Email Security

Recently, members of the Brown County Homebuilders Association were targeted by a phishing scam. Cybercriminals emailed renewal notices with the BCHBA name and logo and attempted to collect membership dues and sensitive information. This scam highlights the need for tighter email security records. As a courtesy to BCHBA members, Packerland Websites partnered with Green Bay Tech Support to check member emails on the BCHBA website directory. We found out that many companies were missing email security records and authentication that left them vulnerable to scams and cyberattacks.

The Vulnerability of Weak Email Security

Cybercriminals target businesses with nonexistent or weak emails security protections, viewing them as easy targets. Plus, cybercriminals target other businesses by impersonating their company in emails, like the BCHBA example. As small business owners responsible for email security, it’s important to have the proper email records, not just for sending emails, but also to safeguard your email communication.

Understanding Email Security

Let me help you understand email security, using as little tech jargon as possible. First, it helps to understand DNS, domain name systems. Think of DNS as the internet’s phonebook. While we remember domain names like Google.com, computers use IP addresses to locate other devices on the Internet. DNS translates these domain names into IP addresses, enabling computers to connect with each other.

Key Email Security Records

SPF records (Sender Policy Framework): SPF is a DNS record that specifies which mail servers are permitted to send email on behalf of your domain. When an email is received, the recipient email servers look to this record to verify if the sending server is authorized – and not spam.

DKIM records (Domain Keys Identified Mail): DKIM adds a digital signature to each outgoing email linked to your domain. This signature helps recipient email services verify that the email is authentic, trusted, and comes from your domain. DKIM helps prevent email fraud, like phishing.

DMARC records (Domain-Based Message Authentication, Reporting, And Conformance): DMARC is a group of policies that tells email servers what to do with emails that fail SPF and DKIM checks. Not in the SPF record? Reject it. No DKIM signature? Reject it. BOOM!

Email Security Shift for Businesses

Recently, Google and Yahoo enhanced their security regarding bulk email communications. (Read our related article, Ensuring Email Deliverability Amid Tight Anti-Spam Policies.) Businesses that are not DMARC compliant eventually will have their emails rejected from delivery. If your company has not been impacted yet, it will be at some point.

Safeguard Your Business from Email Scams

Protecting your email from cyberattack and keeping communication flowing can seem overwhelming. Many small businesses struggle to set up DMARC, DKIM, and SPF for themselves. But don’t just ignore email security because it’s too difficult to understand! Instead, contact your IT provider or Green Bay Tech Support. IT providers can fix the issues before your emails stop getting delivered or your business falls victim to scammers.

Green Bay Tech Support’s Discount

Green Bay Tech Support will offer a 10-15% discount on DMARC implementation services for Brown County Homebuilders Association members. For more information, watch Green Bay Tech Support’s Email Security Video. Contact Dan at Green Bay Tech Support today, 920-770-4125.

Visual Impact: Fundraising Thermometer Drives Donations

Forty-seven children are abused or neglected per second in the U.S. What a heart-breaking statistic. Manatee Children’s Services of Bradenton, Florida, is working to break the cycle of child abuse. The organization serves over 12,000 children and families every year. Currently, Manatee Children’s Services is running a Welcome to Our House fundraising campaign. MCS wants to raise $450,000 to renovate its 100-year-old building, modernizing the facility and organizing services under one roof. As of April 1, 2024, MCS surpassed the half-way mark, raising $245,000, which is 54 percent of its goal.

Embedding a Thermometer into a Website

Packerland Websites built Manatee Children’s Services website and added a unique feature. To chart the fundraiser’s progress, Packerland Websites embedded the image of a thermometer goal chart on the website Home page. The MCS fundraising thermometer clearly communicates the $245,000 goal at a glance. Donors can see how their gift makes a difference, as the thermometer inches higher. Published with the thermometer are a short description, a Donate Online button, and button that links to a document explaining Welcome to Our House.

Driving More Donations for Nonprofits

Fundraising thermometers have been proven to drive more donations because of their visual impact. Nonprofit organizations use fundraising thermometers to chart donations for a capital campaign, giving day like Giving Tuesday, fundraising event, specific program, or year-end appeal. Packerland Websites customizes the thermometer to match the organizations’ branding and color scheme.

Easily Updating Fundraising Milestones

As donations roll in, the website administrator updates the thermometer periodically. Administrators simply login to the website, click on settings, and change the number in the “dollar amount raised” section. By changing just one number, the updates automatically occur in multiple places on the website:

Percentage of goal met
Paragraph of text describing the amount raised and the goal

Learning How to Update a Thermometer

When launching a website, Packerland Websites offers complimentary training for website administrators and editors. Personnel from Manatee Children’s Services learned how to update their web pages, and they also learned how to update the fundraiser thermometer. Packerland Websites also recorded a video for MCS staff. The video provides a quick reference for anyone learning how to update the fundraising thermometer or reviewing the process.

Publicizing the Urgency for Donations

Once a fundraising thermometer is embedded on their website, organizations can use the visual in other marketing collateral. For example, they can show images of the thermometer on their social media pages, newsletters, printed materials, and fundraising events. By updating the thermometer every few weeks, organizations show their progress and drive urgency for more donations.

Ask us About a Fundraising Thermometer

Manatee Children’s Services provides a much-needed service for children and families south of Tampa, Florida. Although the child advocacy group receives some government funding, it relies heavily on philanthropic donations to carry out its mission. The thermometer goal chart is an effective, visual tool to call attention to the organization’s desire to renovate its facility. Packerland Website supports the work of Manatee Children’s Services and its Welcome to Our House campaign. To request a fundraising thermometer for your nonprofit website, contact us.

Maximizing Efficiency: Seamless Integration of Websites with CRM

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms offer a variety of features to help companies meet their goals. CRM solutions enable companies to streamline their processes and stay connected to their customers. Organizations use their CRM to process digital contracts, track leads, manage projects, view customer communications, send email campaigns, and do so much more.

Simplifying Data Management: From Website Forms to CRM

One benefit of CRM technology is the ability to connect a CRM to a custom contact form on a website. The website-to-CRM interaction results in organized lists of names, customer leads, and sign-ups for classes or events. By linking their websites and CRM, organizations have a ready-made system to collect and store registration data for everything from a Paint and Sip class to a golf outing. Data seamlessly transfers from a website to a CRM, making it easy to manage participation lists for training courses, professional development, webinars, fundraisers, social events, and outings.

Tailoring Solutions for Nonprofits & Professional Organizations

Additionally, nonprofit and professional organizations can connect their CRM to a modified, customized E-commerce system. This connection enables them to collect membership dues and member data at the same time.

Transform Your Website-CRM Connection Today

The Packerland Websites team knows that websites are constantly evolving. Today, websites go beyond simply presenting information. Instead, websites are becoming more interactive. Technology has evolved into systems that gather, transfer, and organize information from webpage to CRM. Websites do the bulk of the work, saving time and labor. For more information regarding CRM and website connections, contact us. We are happy to answer your questions and enable a website/CRM connection for your organization.