Stonemonk Media

I've been quiet on here, but I recently finished a 6-week training course on a brand new tool for my business that I'm excited to share with you.

It's called Profit Acceleration Software, and it uses nearly half a billion weighted algorithms to help any business double its profits by increasing just 12 areas by a meager 1.4%.

It has completely blown my mind, not just for my own business, but for my clients as well.

Want to learn more and try the simulator out for YOUR business?

Check it out, absolutely free: www.go.stonemonkmedia.com

-Carl

www.go.stonemonkmedia.com

The two most common thoughts that keep us up at night:

- There's a problem we have and don't want.
- There's a result we want but don't have.

The most successful businesses address these two issues. And most of them use a roadmap to do it. It looks something like this:

Interrupt - Engage - Educate - Offer.

This is often referred to as a marketing funnel (from top to bottom):

Interrupt
Engage
Educate
Offer

The obvious goal for you is sales conversion, but at its core, you are really relieving a problem your prospect has and doesn't want or you are providing a result they want but don't have.

At the top of the funnel (interrupt) are prospects who don't know you.

The strategy here is capturing attention.

In the middle of the funnel (engage and educate) you've captured your prospect's attention, now it's about keeping it and letting them see firsthand what you do and how you can address one of the problems above.

It is building trust and authority.

The bottom of the funnel is the offer. Conversion. The sale.

Make sure it's an irresistible offer, a no-brainer. The better you've done on the first two upper parts of the funnel, the easier this part is, and the higher conversion you will have.

Many businesses ignore the upper parts of the funnel and go straight for the offer. The "call now".

Which is fine if you've established yourself to the prospect. But going for the offer cold, without establishing trust doesn't get that phone ringing like it should. And let's be honest, most prospects aren't even picking up a phone these days. They're emailing. Texting. Virtually interacting. Browsing and clicking. Researching. This is where you will find most of your success. The middle funnel. Engaging and educating. Providing value.

If this is old news, congratulations, you're ahead of most of your competition.

If this post has blown your mind and opened your eyes to a new way of seeing things, let's chat. I'd love to help you build YOUR new business conversion funnel!

To your success,
Carl

If your business website is not driving solid or consistent leads or revenue, here are five ways to fix that:

1. Content is key: Craft a content strategy that informs, engages, and positions you as an authority. Target your ideal customer's needs and interests with valuable content like blog posts, infographics, or videos. Start with "evergreen" content (material that doesn't "expire") that you can repurpose over time.

2. Speak their language: Prioritize user experience (UX). Make your website easy to navigate, visually appealing, and optimized for mobile devices. Ensure clear and concise communication that resonates with your target audience.

3. Compelling CTAs: Calls to action (CTAs) are your conversion workhorses. Clearly tell visitors what you want them to do next, whether it's signing up for a newsletter, downloading a white paper, or contacting you. Make CTAs prominent and enticing with strong value propositions. Understand the customer journey and use funnel strategies for each level of the funnel.

4. SEO magic: Optimize your website for search engines to get discovered organically. Research relevant keywords, incorporate them naturally, and build high-quality backlinks to your site. This will help potential customers find you when they search for solutions you offer.

5. Lead nurturing: Don't let website visitors visit and vanish. Capture leads with engaging forms offering valuable content or free trials. Give them something unique and of high value. Then nurture those leads with email marketing that educates, builds trust, and ultimately converts them into customers.

Want a free 30-minute strategy session with someone who's built and managed websites and managed marketing for large media networks, national brands and international heritage brands?

Drop me a message and let's chat.

I'd love to pinpoint some simple actionable items you can do TODAY to kickstart your website.

I won't waste your time. Promise. I'll even give you a free website accessibility audit and my SEO guidebook just for spending 30 minutes with me.

Just a reminder, the $1000 referral offer is good through May! Get in touch if you want to learn more!

Wanna make $1000?

For the month of May, we're offering a $1000 referral fee to anyone who refers us to web design clients!

And if you wanna work with us yourself, we'll knock $1000 off any website package!

Book a call with Carl to learn more! Link in comments.

Let's talk about troubleshooting for a minute.

Troubleshooting takes shape in several ways, often coming from unexpected complications, failures, or roadblocks to another, more important goal.

Troubleshooting can suck enormous amounts of time, resources, patience, and tolerance from a person or team.

My dad was a broadcast electrical engineer and for most of his life, he was troubleshooting gear, technology, and equipment that was either not working right or at all.

He taught me the key to his success was in troubleshooting. He spent the time no one else could or would to solve the complications that kept the goal from occurring. In his case, a radio or television station being on the air.

He had a process, but even still, much of it was simple trial and error. He readily admitted most of the time he had no idea what he was doing while trying to fix whatever six-figure, high-end broadcast transmitter was failing.

He was relentless in his efforts, and he kept working at it until he figured out what was wrong. He had to, or the station would stay off the air, revenue would be lost, ratings would tank, people would stop listening, watching, etc.

After learning whatever it was from his experience, he took that knowledge with him into the future. So if something else like that happened again, he could shortcut the troubleshooting process and get right to the heart of the issue.

This is the way of the professional. When you hire someone with expertise, most of what you are paying for is to avoid the time and resource waste it would take you to do the job. The time invested by a pro who has been there and done that is part of their cost and value to you.

In my "field" of marketing, it's a weird reality. For example, anyone can make a website nowadays. Anyone can use social media (or so they think). But even still, success is elusive and not guaranteed.

There are hurdles, roadblocks, unexpected time sucks, and things you will need to troubleshoot on your own. These can add up to significant losses, both your time, your team's time, resources, and the ultimate goal itself.

When I was building my studio, I wanted to do everything DIY. Until I got to the sheetrock. In one afternoon, after renting a drywall lift and roping a couple of buddies of mine, it became clear I was out of my element. My inexperienced efforts would have taken me weeks. Even worse, I was about to ruin this entire room and expensive investment if I continued.

So I decided to invest in a pro to get it done. It was the best $1000 I spent. He and his guy got it down in hours and the room was paint-ready in less than a day (technically a few days, since it had to dry). He even fixed my botched job.

I will always raise a glass to anyone who wants to go forth and DIY whatever it is they need done.

But at some point, you will run into complications you didn't expect, that the pro has seen a million times.

Sometimes, it's worth it to bring in a pro.

-Carl

Greetings to all our new followers! I hope to not irritate or bore you too much with the posts. So With that in mind:

Wanna make the easiest $200 of your life?

Read on!

If you refer me to a paying web design or marketing client (or you become one yourself) I'll send you a cool $200 directly once signed up with Stonemonk Media.

What do we do?

High-quality web redesign and digital marketing strategy for small businesses, creators and non-profits.

I only work with a few clients at any given time, so you get a dedicated pro with 20+ years of experience for insanely low market rates that you can count on to deliver incredible results on whatever deadline or budget you are working within.

I still have a few open slots and am offering a $200 finder's fee to fill them.

This offer expires when the books are full.

If you or someone you know is interested book a free call with me at www.stonemonkmedia.com

Any questions feel free to ask!

To your success,
Carl Sundberg
Founder, Stonemonk Media

Stonemonk Media Transformative digital marketing solutions.

Calling all small businesses, non-profits or creators!

Are you in need of a professional website that stands out from the crowd?

Look no further!

Stonemonk Media is seeking 1-2 new clients to join our roster. Partner with us and let's build something extraordinary together.

Plus, take advantage of our limited-time pricing!

DM us or book a time on our calendar to learn more today!

Web Design Done Right | Stonemonk Media Professional website design for small businesses, non-profits, and creators.

We've got a new logo and a new landing page for our web design services!

This page answers the most common questions we get, including what makes us unique, a few examples of our work and our updated pricing for 2024.

If you're looking for a new website, look no further.

Web Design Done Right | Stonemonk Media Professional website design for small businesses, non-profits, and creators.

Is your business website outdated, hard to use, or just plain ugly?

Looking to launch a new site from scratch?

Not sure where to start or what you need to do?

Or would you rather have a professional take the project on for you?

Look no further.

Our schedule has opened up for one or two new businesses that are looking to take their website to the next level.

We have multiple packages to fit your budget and in addition to custom modern builds and functionality, every web build comes with SEO development, analytics, one year of web hosting, one new domain (if needed) and Accessibe accessibility widget to ensure your website is ADA/WCAG compliant and protected.

Whether you want us to manage your site after it's built, or you want full CMS access yourself, we also provide training and up to 4 hours of ongoing site management and updates, analytics, SEO reports and marketing suggestions FREE every month for the first year.

If you'd like to learn more and see some of our work, book a FREE consultation below to see if Stonemonk Media would be a good fit for your business.

Our schedule has been booking out pretty fast lately, so if you need a new website, don't wait, get in touch soon!

To your success,
Carl
Founder of Stonemonk Media

Stonemonk Media Transformative digital marketing solutions.

This holiday season, shop small. It means more than you think.

I'm going to let you in on a secret.

I've been hesitant to tell people because god forbid, what if they steal the idea!

Well...steal it. Go hog wild.

I have been sharing these ideas with clients and friends for a few months now, and every time, I hear: I didn't know about these tools!

I got into this business to help people, so why hold back the goods?

When you need more ideas, you know where to go.

Are you looking for an easy-to-use, affordable (free) website solution and a (free) portal to make some money with a side business or your full business?

Build a beautiful one-page website with carrd.co. (Or splurge for the $20/year pro plan to build up to ten sites) Use that as your landing page for your offer/product/service.

Connect it to Stripe for payment processing. (Again, free. They just take a few percentages of sales, like any payment processor would).

Start a free account with beehiiv for a newsletter to collect contact info and build a network. Give something away like a pdf, art, music, course, etc..what they call a "lead magnet" to get email subscribers. Build a welcome series that auto fulfills the gift so you don't have to worry about it. Set it and forget it (basically.)

And then use whatever social media platform you like most to drive people to that site. And no it doesn't have to be Tiktok, if you don't want it to be. FB, IG, LI, X are all just fine too. Don't overcomplicate it.

I know these tools work because I use them personally for my business(es) and have been since I launched this enterprise just over 6 months ago.

Costs are minimal. You are only bound by your efforts and ideas and your desire to promote and market and connect with people.

Want some more ideas? 1-on-1 guidance? Someone to inspire your ideas into fruition? Help setting things up?

Let's chat. Set up a free call on my (carrd) website: stonemonkmedia.com

To your success!
-Carl

Using paid social media can be a valuable strategy for businesses looking to grow their online presence and reach their target audience. Here are 10 reasons why a business should consider using paid social media:

1. Targeted Advertising: Paid social media allows businesses to precisely target their ads to specific demographics, interests, and behaviors, ensuring that their content reaches the right audience.

2. Increased Brand Awareness: Paid social media can boost brand visibility and recognition, helping businesses become more recognizable to potential customers.

3. Reach a Wider Audience: Paid advertising can extend a business's reach beyond its organic followers, enabling them to connect with new potential customers.

4. Drive Website Traffic: Paid social media campaigns can direct traffic to a business's website, where visitors can learn more about products and services.

5. Lead Generation: Paid social media can be used to generate leads and build a customer database, allowing for follow-up marketing efforts.

6. Competitive Advantage: Using paid social media can help businesses stand out in a crowded online marketplace and gain an advantage over competitors.

7. Promote Special Offers: Businesses can use paid social media to promote discounts, special offers, and promotions to a broader audience.

8. Retargeting: Paid social media enables businesses to retarget users who have previously interacted with their website or content, increasing the likelihood of conversions.

9. Analytics and Insights: Social media advertising platforms provide detailed analytics and insights, allowing businesses to assess the effectiveness of their campaigns and make data-driven decisions.

10. Cost-Effective Advertising: Paid social media campaigns can be tailored to various budgets, making it a cost-effective advertising option that can deliver a positive return on ad spend (ROAS). Using a "small-bets" strategy, even at just $5 a day, can generate a successful data-informed campaign with results in a very short amount of time.

Have you considered running paid social ads for your business but not sure how? Let's chat.

We can run a limited paid campaign for you for two weeks FOR FREE (you just pay for the ad budget) and show you how to do it!

Stonemonk Media is proud to announce a partnership with accessiBe, the market leader in web accessibility.

Stonemonk Media has joined the accessiBe Partner Program, which is designed to provide web and digital agencies, freelance developers and marketers, website and e-commerce builders, hosting services, and others with the tools needed to make their clients’ websites accessible for people with various disabilities.

As a result of the partnership, Stonemonk Media will be able to utilize accessiBe’s AI-powered solution, accessWidget, to help create websites for their customers that are accessible and ADA and WCAG 2.1 compliant.

In addition, accessWidget also performs 24-hour automatic maintenance scans of any new and updated content and provides monthly compliance audits.

Not only is providing an accessible website the ethical decision but it also boosts the brand’s reputation, opens a consumer base to disability communities totaling over one billion people globally, and minimizes the risk of being exposed to legal action.

To learn more how we can help save your business serious money from lawsuit threats, as well as tax incentives, drop us a line.

Or book a call on our website www.stonemonkmedia.com where you can also see accessiBe in action! (Click the icon on the bottom left of the page!)

Stonemonk Media Transformative digital media, digital marketing and social media solutions.

Unpopular opinion (especially on Facebook):

If you want to fast-track your small business, forget organically growing your social media audience.

It pains me to say that because there was a time when that wasn't the case.

Trust me, I've been working with and managing social media channels personally and professionally since Friendster.

I've been in these trenches since before some of you "social media experts" were even born.

I've seen it all, and I've studied the evolutions and I have plenty of wisdom to share.

There are few shortcuts to doing organic growth right (giveaways, collabs, and partnerships - all of which cost a pretty penny). Forget "buying followers" too. They are mostly worthless bots. Even if you embrace shortcuts like giveaways and collabs, you may see a follower boost, but they could be shortlived or worse, the wrong customer/audience. Which means your engagement tanks.

No matter how you slice it, growing organically on social is a long, difficult, grinding road. And to do it right, you have to hire someone to do it. And by someone, I mean, you really need a team to do it well.

The investment is astronomical, and the payout is very far away.

If you have a small social audience or following and want to grow your BUSINESS, paid social is really the only way to do this quickly these days.

Here's why: The big socials have gamed the algorithms to limit your reach, with the goal to make you pay for that. It's sad, but true. I hate it. You hate it. We all hate it. But it's how the platforms work.

Let's say you have a "big" following. Maybe 20k on a single platform. Sounds great right? Except the algorithm throttles the access, limiting you to about 5% of that audience if you're lucky.

That's a whopping 1000 people.

They only serve your post to the more engaged folks in your list too, so it's the same 1000 people over and over again.

This isn't to say you shouldn't build your organic strategy. You should. But it's a long game that bears little fruit, for a very long time. It's brand and trust building.

If you want quick wins, immediate gains...if you want to see monetary results, sales, leads, clicks to your site, etc, you have to embrace paid ads. That's the bad news.

The good news: You don't need to have an Apple-sized budget to see instant results.

You can take as little as $1 right now and build a campaign on Meta (Facebook and Instagram) and start seeing results.

In fact, that's how you do it. Small bets. A/B test with tiny budgets. Once you're seeing some consistency in the ads, scale it as much as you want.

Want to learn more?

Drop me a DM or book a call with me (link in my bio).

I'll share some tactics you can use immediately.

100% free.

To your success,
Carl

Introducing our "Digital Marketing Amplifier": A Tailored 1-on-1 Consulting Session to Skyrocket Your Online Presence!

In today's fast-paced digital landscape, having a robust and effective marketing strategy is crucial for staying ahead of the competition. With our unique "Digital Marketing Amplifier," you'll gain personal access to Carl Sundberg, a seasoned digital marketing expert and founder of Stonemonk Media who will work closely with you to identify untapped opportunities, conquer challenges, and unlock your business's full potential.

During this personalized extensive consulting session, he will dive deep into your specific business goals, target audience, and industry landscape. He'll assess your current digital marketing efforts, identify areas of improvement, and develop a tailor-made action plan to amplify your online presence, capture more leads and make more money.

From optimizing your website for search engines and enhancing your social media strategy to crafting compelling content and implementing data-driven analytics, Carl will provide you with expert guidance, practical insights, and proven tactics to maximize your marketing impact, whatever your budget size.

"Digital Marketing Amplifier" goes beyond generic advice by customizing strategies to align with your unique business needs. Carl will leverage his extensive industry knowledge with the latest digital marketing trends, ensuring that you receive cutting-edge recommendations and techniques tailored specifically to your business.

Here's what Blake had to say:
“I just had a consulting appointment with Carl about my freelance gig, and let me tell you - not only does he know his stuff, he helped narrow my thinking to the important factors to consider when building a portfolio. If you’re a creative and want to elevate your online presence, you will do yourself a huge favor by leveraging his knowledge. Get on this.” -Blake Owens

Are you interested in a FREE 30 minute call to see if this would be a good fit for you and your business?

Book a time on my website: https://stonemonkmedia.com/

Talk to you soon!

-Carl

Stonemonk Media Transformative digital media, digital marketing and social media solutions.

Here's 5 tips for a great website for musicians or bands:

1. Ensure quality: Your website should reflect your unique style and brand. Use high-quality visuals, such as professional photographs and album artwork, to create an engaging and visually appealing experience for your visitors. Incorporate your band's logo, color scheme, and fonts consistently across the site to reinforce your brand identity.

2. Make Your Music Easily Accessible: Your website should prominently feature your music. Include a music player or embed streaming platforms like Spotify or SoundCloud so that visitors can listen to your songs without leaving the site. Organize your music by albums or playlists to make it easy for fans to explore your discography.

3. Include an Upcoming Events Calendar: Keep your fans informed about your upcoming shows, tours, or any other events you're planning. Include a dedicated events calendar on your website and make it easily visible on the homepage. Provide details such as dates, venues, ticket links, and any special instructions or VIP packages. Consider integrating a ticketing platform directly into your site for a seamless user experience.

4. Engage with Your Fans: Provide ways for your fans to connect and engage with you. Include a contact form or email address for inquiries and bookings. Consider adding a blog or news section where you can share updates, behind-the-scenes stories, and exclusive content. Encourage fans to sign up for your newsletter to receive updates directly in their inbox.

5. Mobile-Friendly Design: With the majority of internet users accessing websites through mobile devices, it's crucial to ensure your website is mobile-friendly. Optimize your site for different screen sizes and resolutions to provide a seamless browsing experience across devices. Keep your layout clean and uncluttered, prioritize fast loading times, and use responsive design techniques to adapt to different screen sizes.

Would you prefer to offload this work?

Hire Stonemonk Media to build or rebuild your website. There's 2 more days left to book my $500 all-in website offer. Starting July 1, that rate triples! Got questions? Drop me a comment or DM!

-Carl

Any bands or creators out there need a website or a quality, simplified overhaul of your current site?

Now through June 30, I'm offering web site builds for only $500 (doesn't include domain hosting or fees).

Simple to manage, easy to navigate and molded for your band or brand, I will build you a fully custom landing page funnel design website with up to five customizable sections.

Five to ten business day turnaround, assuming assets are provided in timely fashion.

If you have Google Analytics, I will include syncing that and any social media pixels that you can provide.

To see an example of my work, head over to my website. If you like what you see, book a 30 minute chat with me.

Totally free.

If I suck, don't hire me.

Stonemonk Media Transformative digital media, digital marketing and social media solutions.

Hello Friends,

Is your small business or brand in need of a website or do you want to remodel your current one?

Looking to simplify it or expand it?

Want to add products or lead captures to your site?

Maybe just an audit and some new eyes on your site for easy improvements?

Want it done fast and affordable?

I have 2 slots available this month and I'm offering a 20% discount on new web projects!

I would love to make your website work for you!

DM for references, pricing and any questions you have.

Or book a meeting with me on my website: https://stonemonkmedia.com/

To your success!
Carl
Founder of Stonemonk Media

Stonemonk Media Transformative digital media, digital marketing and social media solutions.

Podcasts have come a long way since the early days.

They've gone from random people in bedrooms with bad quality, clip-on Radio Shack mics rambling for 4 hours an episode to a booming, billion-dollar monster of an industry.

Even businesses are finding the value of podcasting.

You don't have to have a huge audience and you don't have to do 10,000 episodes to leverage them either.

A short-run, super focused, topical podcast of 10-20 episodes is a worthy evergreen tool to share your brand or business to a captive audience of one.

If you have thought about starting or using a podcast to engage with your customers, but don't know where to begin, drop me a line. I'd love to help you.

With over 20 years of broadcast background, my own professional recording studio at home and having launched, hosted and produced several podcasts in my time, I can help you build a lean, mean podcast strategy for your brand or business.

Let's talk! DM me or setup a call on my calendar (link below).

https://stonemonkmedia.com/

Musicians!

Do you have a song you need mastered?

Maybe even an older track freshened up and remastered?

For my very first promotion, I am offering up FREE MASTERING for one song for bands, musicians or solo artists.

If you like it, it's yours for $0! If you don't like, you're out nothing.

If you want more songs mastered, I'll do them for $25 per song with a discount on full albums and 3-4 song EPs!

Fine print details:
Offer is only final mix mastering (no stem mastering).

I prefer if you can send a final mix WAV file at 16 bit, 44.1k or higher (48k preferred) but will accept other file types (MP3, M4A, AAC, OGG, AIFF) if that is all you have.

I will master your song free of charge and deliver a WAV and MP3 file within 48 hours (or 2 business days) that is ready for broadcast, streaming platforms and download.

This offer is good through the end of May or for the first 25 interested parties.

Drop me a message or comment if you're interested!

To your success!
-Carl

Hello Friends! Welcome to my first post for Stonemonk Media!

Since I announced my business a couple weeks ago, people have asked me: "What services do you offer?"

The answer: Digital Marketing Services and Consulting.

That includes:

Website design (or redesign), social media management and strategy (paid and organic), email and media strategy, content creation (copywriting) and finally, multimedia production.

At the moment, you can hire me for a 90-minute consultation and strategy build for the paltry fee of $150, which you can book on my website: http://stonemonkmedia.com

I've got a cool promotion I'm launching tomorrow for musicians, so give this page a like and make sure you're following for news and updates!

Appreciate your support!
-Carl, Founder of Stonemonk Media