Union County Marysville

Union County, Ohio, is the fastest-growing county in the state, and their website was struggling to keep up. Outdated and lacking the necessary tools to showcase its impressive growth and potential, the Union County Economic Development team needed a full-scale overhaul of their digital presence. They required a solution that would make the county more appealing to developers, businesses, and residents while offering real-time updates and a seamless user experience.

MMG Design took on this challenge, spearheading the design, development, and on-page SEO of a website that would reflect Union County's economic strength, vibrancy, and community spirit. In collaboration with SEO consultant Corrie Bott, we embarked on a one-month campaign to build a responsive, high-performance website that would position Union County as a leader among Ohio’s counties. We also implemented a targeted Google Search Ads campaign to increase the website's visibility for key search terms, ensuring the right audiences would find the county’s new digital platform.

The Challenge

Union County’s economic development team wanted a website that would:

• Attract key developers and industries to invest in the county
• Provide real-time access to economic and community statistics
• Highlight the county’s most vital sectors, including advanced manufacturing, agriculture, and smart technology
• Showcase a modern design that reflected the county’s forward-thinking ethos
• Offer a streamlined, user-friendly experience that would make information easily accessible to different user groups, from developers to residents

The county’s previous website was outdated, cluttered, and difficult to navigate. Key stats and programs were buried under layers of pages, and it lacked a cohesive structure. MMG Design’s goal was to transform the platform into a clean, modern hub for all things Union County, where data was not just accessible but visually compelling.

The Approach

MMG Design executed a highly strategic approach to the redesign, with several core elements driving the project:

1. Responsive Design and Modern Aesthetic
   Our primary objective was to create a site that looked professional, trustworthy, and forward-thinking. We used modern design elements such as sleek typography, custom icons, and high-resolution images to give the site an updated feel. Each industry sector the county wanted to highlight was represented with unique, branded elements that set the tone for potential partners and developers visiting the site.
2. Custom Iconography and Visual Cues
   With the need to speak directly to target industries, we developed custom icons and visual cues for sectors such as advanced manufacturing, foreign direct investment, agriculture, small businesses, and automotive. Each icon was animated to provide an interactive experience, ensuring that users could easily navigate the content and understand which industry the county was targeting.
3. Enhanced User Journey
   The navigation was simplified to ensure that the right content was delivered to the right audience. Developers, businesses, and residents could easily find the resources they needed without digging through layers of content. Key categories like target industries, living resources, and talent acquisition were made prominent and easily accessible from the homepage.
4. Dynamic Content and Statistics
   Union County needed to stay current on the metrics that drove its economic growth, so we implemented a CMS-powered system that allows their team to easily update stats in real time. We prominently featured statistics that matter to developers, such as workforce demographics, commuting patterns, and major employers, on interactive and visually appealing dashboards.
5. Google Search Ads Campaign
   Alongside the website overhaul, we implemented a highly targeted Google Search Ads campaign, focusing on keywords relevant to Union County’s economic development goals. This campaign helped the new website attract developers and businesses looking for growth opportunities, directing them to specific landing pages that aligned with their interests. By leveraging search ads, we ensured that Union County’s key messages reached the right audiences at the right time.
6. On-Page SEO and Search Engine Optimization
   We implemented an aggressive SEO strategy throughout the development process. I personally handled the on-page SEO by optimizing all page titles, meta descriptions, and content for maximum search visibility. This effort ensured that Union County would rank highly for terms like "economic development in Ohio" and "business development in Union County."

The Results

The revamped Union County Economic Development website launched successfully, achieving a range of positive results almost immediately:

• 82% Boost in Search Volume
  Thanks to the SEO strategies we implemented, the website saw a dramatic increase in search visibility. Union County’s site is now one of the top destinations for developers and businesses searching for economic opportunities in Ohio.
• 4x Increase in Partnership Inquiries
  The primary goal of the site was to convert visitors into potential business partners. The clean, targeted messaging led to a fourfold increase in partnership inquiries. Developers and industries were more inclined to reach out after interacting with the county’s new website, which positioned Union County as a prime location for growth.
• 33% Increase in Lead Magnet Signups
  The website’s lead magnet—a call to action for businesses and residents to download resources or sign up for updates—experienced a 33% increase in conversions. This uptick reflects the new website’s ability to engage and convert visitors more effectively than ever before.
• 40 Unique Pages for Different Audiences
  The site now features 40 well-organized and unique pages, each designed to serve a different audience—developers, residents, and prospective businesses. These pages provide tailored messaging and data, making it easy for users to find exactly what they’re looking for. The site structure is built with flexibility in mind, ensuring the Union County team can easily expand as needed.

Key Features of the New Website

1. Interactive Stats Hub
   One of the standout features of the new site is the interactive stats hub. This section provides users with key metrics about Union County’s economic health, such as population growth, workforce demographics, and commuting patterns. Each stat is presented with engaging visuals, making it easy to digest the most important data.
2. Custom Landing Pages for Target Industries
   Developers and businesses can now easily navigate to custom landing pages designed specifically for their industry. We created industry-specific pages that provide in-depth information about how Union County supports sectors like advanced manufacturing, research and development, and agriculture.
3. Property Search Functionality
   One of the new tools available on the website is a property search feature. This allows developers to search for available commercial and industrial properties within the county, streamlining their decision-making process.
4. Dynamic Blog and Media Center
   The site now has a regularly updated blog and media center, providing Union County with a platform to share the latest news and updates. The blog is categorized and filtered for easy navigation, making it a key resource for both businesses and residents.
5. Increased Focus on Community and Talent Development
   Union County’s emphasis on talent development is evident throughout the site. Sections highlighting internship programs, workforce development resources, and educational opportunities were designed to attract both employers and prospective residents to the area.