B2B Website Design for Indiana Manufacturers
Our industrial B2B website design and SEO services have helped contract fabrication, machining and assembly companies in South Bend IN and nationwide for almost two decades. These specialized industrial website design and online marketing services are customized in many ways specifically for small and mid-sized manufacturing companies because promoting your manufacturing capabilities is very different from making websites for other types of companies.
Custom B2B website design services for manufacturing and industrial companies can include features like case studies, complex RFQ forms, targeted geographic pages, and authentic photo galleries of your shop. And some South Bend IN area fabrication and assembly companies can even use advanced features like calendars integrated on your web pages with online scheduling requests, SEO keyword ranking reports and SEO implementation plans. These are just a sample of the many features that we can build into your website design as we customize features for your particular needs. Farther down this page you can also see examples of a wide variety of website and SEO services we do for our clients on a regular basis.
Call us today to start a conversation about your company and how to boost your online presence everywhere near South Bend and throughout Indiana and neighboring states so that every time your potential customers are looking for the services you provide, you will be found in the search results!
The South Bend Area and its Manufacturing Economy
South Bend is the fourth-largest city in Indiana, serving as the economic and cultural hub of Northern Indiana. It is also home to the University of Notre Dame. The St. Joseph River shaped South Bend's economy through the mid-20th century as it became an industrial city with companies such as the Studebaker Corporation, the Oliver Chilled Plow Company, the Bendix Corporation and other large industrial and manufacturing companies.
Today major manufacturing in the South Bend area includes AM General, Honeywell, Hubbell Inc., Sapa Extrusions, Federal-Mogul Powertrain, The Timken Company, Steel Warehouse Company, Tire Rack Inc., Patrick Industries, Nyloncraft, Manufacturing Technology Inc. and hundreds of smaller manufacturing companies acting as suppliers to these and other large manufacturers.
Neighboring Elkhart County IN is also known as the "RV Manufacturing Capital of the World" and the "Band Instrument Capital of the World." Elkhart Indiana is also a manufacturing home to pharmaceuticals, electronic components, manufactured housing and mobile home manufacturing.
Industrial Website Design and SEO for Your Company
If your company provides contract manufacturing or industrial services and you want more opportunities to reach these manufacturing sectors or companies like these anywhere, then a top-notch industrial B2B website design upgrade is critical to help you find new sales opportunities. Let us help you!
Fixed Videos on Website
Strange things happen on websites. A company called us and said that some of their videos had disappeared from their website and they couldn't get ahold of the person who had designed the website. So we investigated and, sure enough, videos on 3 pages had disappeared. One showed up, but was just black and had an error message. Two videos on two additional web pages had literally disappeared. So we removed the problematic video widgets and reinstalled the videos using a different method. Customer was very happy.
Automated Visual Regression Testing for Quality Assurance on Website Updates
Visual Regression Testing for Quality Assurance
We're adding automated visual regression testing for all client websites to automatically test before and after screenshots following any type of site updates. It is common in website design to have minor or major discrepancies appear on web pages after updates to content, to feature and function plugins, to website themes and to the WordPress core engine. Sometimes these errors are blatantly obvious. More often, however, they're subtle, and a brief visual scan by a tired website developer can miss such update errors. Automated visual regression testing finds even the most minor discrepancies between before and after screen shots of your website pages after updates. This is just another part of our attention to detail, our quality assurance, and our commitment to our clients to keep giving them the best website possible!
WordPress Website Security - Pingbacks
WordPress Website Security - Disabling Pingbacks
Upgraded website security profile of multiple Indiana manufacturing clients after a weekly security advisory indicated a widespread WordPress security vulnerability. The report indicated "an unauthenticated blind SSRF in the pingback feature... To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would utilize WordPress pingbacks... in combination with other vulnerabilities."
The WordPress security fix we implemented included disabling pingbacks separately for past website posts and for all future posts. Additionally, we closed other vulnerabilities by updating all WordPress plugins to their latest versions as part of our regular monthly site management plans.
Learn more about website security from Baer Web Design.
Google Business Profile Example
Optimizing Google Business Profiles for Manufacturers
Google Business Profiles are an excellent way to give your business more visibility on Google Search and Maps. We help small fabrication and industrial companies in South Bend, Elkhart and throughout Indiana, claim their Google Business Profile and fully optimize it.
We go far beyond adding photos and business hours. We list multiple service areas for your business, and add as many product / service categories as are appropriate. Most importantly, we launch ongoing, engaging business profile content strategies for your company to keep your listing current and competitive.
We help your Google Business Profile rank higher and produce more engagement from highly qualified OEM buyers and other industrial buyers. And we monitor your Google Business Profile performance for you. Learn more!
Manufacturer Websites & CAD File Uploads - DXF and DWG Files
Indiana RV manufacturing companies, and many other OEM manufacturers, use lots of custom cable assemblies and custom wire harnesses every day in their assembly processes. A frustrated Indiana cable assembly company recently contacted us to see if we could fix their website's contact form to enable it to upload CAD files like DWG and DXF files. Almost 50% of all websites are built on the WordPress platform, and if you're one of those companies, then your contact form, by default, will not upload DWG, DXF, IGES, or any other CAD file format.
But industrial and manufacturing customers expect to be able to upload CAD files on your website. And if a potential new customer is requesting an RFQ, then your website needs to be ready to accept CAD file uploads today! Otherwise, you could lose new sales opportunities. We solve this problem for manufacturing companies in Indiana and nationwide and we'll solve it for your company too. Learn more!
Huge WordPress Website Security Breach
"71% of the 30,000 malware attacks which occur daily happen to businesses with less than 100 employees"
Every week we review the latest WordPress website security vulnerability report to see if any client websites are affected. Last week there was a whopper of a security issue that impacted 10 of our clients including clients in Indiana and five other states.
This security event ended up affecting over 400 plugins used while building WordPress websites. These popular and widely used plugins are used on millions of websites which are now at much greater risk of hacking, hijacking, malware, and more. Hackers, incidentally, also read these security reports so that they can discover new vulnerabilities for them to attack.
Read MoreSetup Google Search Console
Setup Google Search Console for small industrial client to help track and analyze traffic stats, site health, keywords and top pages. Google Search Console (GSC) provides keywords used to find your website on searches, but Google Analytics doesn't even do that. Google Search Console also assists in getting new or updated pages indexed more quickly and helps root out errors on pages that might affect your search rankings. It also allows removal of indexed pages that you don't want indexed. GSC is a great SEO tool and site health tool for webmasters to help improve your website and to help you achieve better search engine ranking results.
SEO Keyword Ranking Report
Completed an SEO keyword ranking report for an Indiana custom manufacturer of plastic parts to show how they rank in search results in multiple cities for their primary keywords. We showed this industrial company how their rank was completely different, and significantly lower (almost non-existent), in cities other than the city where they're located.
Our SEO keyword ranking report provides monthly reports for your best keywords on Google, Google mobile, Bing and Yahoo, in multiple cities. The SEO keyword ranking report provides needed information to implement and monitor improvements to your SEO in every city / region where you want to find new customers.
Client: Plastic Fabrication Company
Added Breadcrumb Trail for SEO & Navigation
Installed Breadcrumb Trail Navigation that appears at the top of each page on a client's website of 80+ pages. The Breadcrumb trail offers site visitors a user friendly alternate visual navigation method by helping visitors understand where they are in a large website's complex navigation. It shows them a path back to the home page or to any page in between and allows clicking directly to any page on the trail.
Breadcrumb trails are also extremely helpful to your SEO because they help Google understand your navigation structure. And they improve your bounce rate... visitors won't feel lost on a big, complex website, so they'll stay on your website longer.
Client: Custom Gaskets & Seals Fabricator
Security Update PHP Version
Updated PHP version on server for a security update for numerous clients. Updated htaccess file to accomodate newer php version, and added new file to verify php version.
Client: industrial companiesWordPress Security Enhancements
Added WordPress security measures on website for Chicago area custom fabrication company facing Chinese hackers. Added online security measures against brute force attacks and code injection attacks. Changed default WordPress login location and added two factor authentication to login (2FA).
Client: Specialty Custom FabricatorMonthly WordPress Updates
Updated WordPress plugins across multiple industrial company websites including search engine optimization plugins like Yoast SEO, WordPress security plugins, Google Analytics plugins, and website speed optimization plugins. Updating WordPress plugins is an essential website security task.
Client: Small Industrial Companies
Monthly Maintenance Updates
Did maintenance updates to WordPress website for for South Bend circuit board manufacturing company. Services included updating WordPress plugins, website backup and checking website security settings for this B2B industrial company.
SEO Enhancements - H-tag Fixes
Started SEO enhancements for a consulting company by fixing their header tags (H-tags). H-tags are critical for SEO because they tell the search engines what is most important on each web page rather than letting the search engine guess. This company's site had multiple H1 tags per page, which confuses a search algorithm and hurts your search ranking. A single H1 tag tells a search engine what is most important on a page. Multiple H1 tags tells a search engine conflicting information. So we left one significant H1 tag per page and added H2's to H5 tags for other important info on the page. And we reformatted all of these changed H-tags to make them appear exactly the same as before.
SEO 301 Redirects from Old Website to New Website
Implemented a fundamental part of a new website design that too many web design agencies and freelancers neglect... Specifically, we set up about three dozen "301 permanent redirects" to auto-forward old web pages to equivalent pages on a new website for a contract manufacturing company in Indiana. This SEO friendly, URL forwarding method helps people successfully connect to your new website even when they click one of your old web page links from a search results page, a directory, from their bookmarks, etc.
Client: SMB Contract Manufactuer
Fixed WordPress Plugin Update Errors
Client updated plugins without experience and plugin errors ensued. Rolled back one plugin to a previous version. Manually removed a WordPress plugin and replaced with earlier version. Fixed SMTP delivery error in Gravity Forms. Tested and retested after each change.
Client: Custom Machinery ManufacturerWebsite Security Upgrades - Adding SSL for HTTPS
Added SSL turning HTTP into HTTPS with padlock in the address bar. Company had site hacked so we updated all WP plugins, fixed the hacked page, changed all of their passwords, implemented forced password updates every 3 months, required complex passwords, and full iThemes security suite. Also implemented two factor authentication (2FA).
Client: Value Added Distributor
WordPress Plugin Updates
WordPress plugin updates including Yoast SEO plugin update and Gravity Forms plugin update. Verified daily WordPress website backup prior to making updates, used staging site for plugin updates and tested website on staging site after updates before moving updates from staging site back to live website.
Client: Automation Equipment ManufacturerSEO Customer Interaction Updates
Testing SEO update system for posting selective customer interactions to client websites. SEO update system includes SCHEMA markup for improved SEO value and search performance.
Customer: B2B Industrial Companies
Update Jobs Page on WordPress Website
Adding three job position descriptions to Careers page on WordPress website for small B2B industrial company. Reformatting job listings. Testing submission form and email settings.
Client: Custom Gasket ManufacturerMobile Website Test and Analysis
Provided a mobile website test and analysis to metal fabrication company in the South Bend area. Company met only 1 of 5 requirements for a user friendly mobile website. A WordPress responsive design would fix this problem.
Client: Metal Fabrication Company
Monthly WordPress Plugin Updates
Monthly WordPress plugin updates done for our manufacturing B2B website design clients. WordPress websites need regular updating as plugins, themes and the WordPress core continually improve in functionality and security. It is not uncommon for industrial company websites to get hacked because they're often easy targets with poor security and their website components are often out-of-date. Many small and mid-sized manufacturing companies also seldom look at their own websites, so hackers know that they can sometimes hijack a site unnoticed for long periods. If you read this, go look at your website!
Client: SMB manufacturing companiesWebsite Security & Hacked Website Recovery
Helped northern Indiana industrial service company recover from SEO hack where search engine links to their website were hijacked & redirected to pharmacy site. They did not use SSL and had weak passwords. Please note that they were not a client of ours but we helped them on a one-time basis. Imagine someone clicking to your website & ending up at a via.gra site! Not good!
Client: Industrial Service CompanyWebsite Updates - Page Specific PDF Links
Updated the website of a value added distributor of hydraulic & pneumatic components. Added links directly to specific pages of OEM catalog for "tube fittings", "quick couplings", etc. so the site visitors don't have to search endlessly within a 300+ page PDF OEM catalog.
Client: Value Added Distributor
Starting WordPress Maintenance Plan
Started new WordPress maintenance program for Chicago area company. WordPress maintenance program includes regular updates to WordPress core engine, WordPress themes and WordPress plugins plus website security and daily website backups. Premium plan includes ongoing content updates as needed.
Client: Graphite Machining CompanyAdded Accordion Drop Down Boxes
Website updates adding accordion dropdown boxes for a long list of material descriptions for custom gasket manufacturer. Accordion boxes make the list appear shorter but each item is clickable and expands with further information. The alternative is an even longer bullet point list where the full description is always showing for every single bullet point item.
Company: Custom Gasket Manufacturer