David Martin Design

05/23/2026

Time for this week’s Feature FDavid Martin Design!

David Martin Design provides creative media, design, and visual storytelling services that help organizations and businesses communicate clearly through strong branding, digital content, and thoughtful design.

Member Since: 2021
Make sure to check them out!
davidmartindesign.com

05/12/2026

Quick question: when did you last log into your Google Business Profile?

For a lot of local businesses, the honest answer is "a while ago" and that's completely understandable. It's one of those things that's easy to set up and forget.

But your profile is often the first thing a potential customer sees before they ever visit your website. Hours, photos, reviews, the little details... they all matter more than most people realize.

I put together a practical guide covering everything from claiming and verifying your profile to what ongoing maintenance actually looks like in practice.

No jargon. Just what to do and why it matters.

👉 https://davidmartindesign.com/local-business/google-business-profile-guide/

03/20/2026

Have you ever opened an email from a trusted organization and seen a big red Gmail warning banner?

That happened to me in February with an email from the The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce. The message was completely legitimate — but Gmail was flagging it as suspicious.

The culprit: a DNS misconfiguration that caused a DMARC alignment failure. The Chamber's email platform was signing messages using the wrong domain name.

I worked with the Chamber team to diagnose the issue, coordinate with their vendor, and get the right records in place. By early March, everything was resolved.

It's a common problem for organizations using third-party email platforms — and most don't know it's happening until someone sees a warning or emails start landing in spam.

Full write-up on the blog →

Email feels simple when it works. You write a message, hit send, and it arrives in someone's inbox a moment later.

03/10/2026

Eight years ago, Drew Felt of Bloomington Window Tint LLC came to me with a problem a lot of local business owners know well.
He was doing great work. Building a reputation. But his phone had gone quiet - because his website was a placeholder and Google wasn't taking it seriously.

I built him a real WordPress site. And I've been working together ever since.

Over eight years, that's meant a full website build, new service pages as his business grew, LLumar Films product integrations, Google Business Profile management, review responses, Google Analytics, security maintenance, and now updates in progress.

No dramatic story. Just consistent digital work that's kept pace with a growing business.

We just published a case study about it. If you're a local business owner thinking about what a real, long-term web partnership looks like - this one's for you.

Read it here:

Case Study | David Martin Design | Client Work

03/04/2026

18 years ago, Joe Grant needed a website for his Bloomington bookstore. I built him one.

We've been working together ever since.

Over the years that's meant web design, SEO, Google Analytics, hosting management, SSL renewals, and a lot of in-person visits to 223 Pete Ellis Drive. Joe focuses on buying books. I keep his digital presence running.

It's a simple model. But it works because it's built on trust and consistency, not just transactions.

I wrote up the full story on the blog. If you've ever wondered what an 18-year client relationship actually looks like, this is it. 👇

https://davidmartindesign.com/case-studies/eighteen-years-of-keeping-a-bookstore-online/

Some client relationships are defined by a single project. Others are defined by time.

02/25/2026

Seven years ago, we built a website for a small, family-owned trash company here in southern Indiana.

What started as a simple custom build has turned into one of our longest client partnerships.

No big redesigns.
No unnecessary complexity.
Just steady, reliable website support year after year.

Since 2019, Ava's Waste Removal has grown into a five-time Best of B-Town winner — and we’ve been proud to support their online presence along the way.

Sometimes small businesses don’t need something flashy.
They just need someone who keeps things running.

You can read the full case study here:
🔗 https://davidmartindesign.com/case-studies/avas-waste-removal-website-support-case-study/

If your website needs steady support, we’re here to help.

Ava's Waste Removal has been a client since February 2019 — one of our longest-running partnerships. What started as a custom website build for a small trash

01/30/2026

Good morning from The Mill! ☕
Started the day with WFIU Public Radio and ended up with this great WFIU coffee mug—love the cardinal design.
Today, I'm excited for the kickoff event for the Bloomington Breakfast Club. Chelsea Sanders of Blueline has organized a morning of coffee, networking, and a conversation with Lonnie Bedwell, plus community headshots to follow.
It's exactly the kind of gathering that brings people together around meaningful work and real connection. If you're in Bloomington and looking to connect with others doing good work in the community, come check out The Mill.

10/06/2025

I’ve been proud to be part of The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce officially through David Martin Design since 2021, but really going back to my days in the Young Professionals group (yes, I still have emails from 2009 😄). Being a Chamber member is more than a logo or dues — it’s about being part of a network of people who genuinely want to see this community thrive.

From networking at Heartwork Brewing 🍻 to collaborating with other local businesses, the Chamber keeps us connected, visible, and inspired.

Over time, the Chamber has given me more than I expected:
• Connections — from hosting events at The Mill to showing up at ribbon cuttings
• Visibility & referrals — the Chamber directory and member features genuinely bring new opportunities
• Advocacy & collaboration — 850+ businesses strong, working together to strengthen Monroe County

To the Chamber team: thank you. I see you. I appreciate your work, your reach, your vision. To local business owners considering membership: it’s worth it. Show up. Invest. Be part of something bigger.

👉 Let’s connect! If you’re curious about SEO, strategy, or building a more meaningful online presence, drop me a line or come say hi at the next Chamber event.

https://davidmartindesign.com/local-business/why-im-proud-to-be-a-chamber-member/

09/30/2025

👨‍💻✨ Another Happy Home Tech Story! 🐾💻

Meet Ellen, Mark, and their adorable pup Ralphie! 🐶 It was such a pleasure helping this lovely couple get their Windows computer updated, simplified, and fully functional — with a more comfortable keyboard setup and clear, step-by-step guidance.

From upgrades to hands-on tutorials and follow-up support, I'm here to make sure your tech feels friendly, not frustrating.

Thank you, Ellen, for the kind words and heartfelt recommendation. It's clients like you who make this work so rewarding. 💙

📩 Need help untangling your tech? Whether it’s setup, training, or ongoing support, I’m just a message away.