Let’s get one thing straight: social media is not a substitute for a website. You do not own your Instagram, your TikTok, or your Facebook. Those platforms do. And they can take your account down at any time, no explanation required. A website, on the other hand, is your digital headquarters. It’s where your brand lives, breathes, and converts. This truth came into sharp focus when we started working with Monark Wild Rice.
The first website Monark launched wasn’t built by someone with deep digital expertise. It was a quick-and-dirty solution that served a short-term need but lacked the foundation to grow. It wasn’t mobile-responsive, it didn’t rank in search, and it was overpriced for what it offered. There was no real infrastructure. It was just a shell that held information without any ability to attract or convert leads.
This is a mistake we see far too often and have made ourselves: hiring someone who can technically launch a website but doesn’t understand user experience, SEO, or site architecture. It’s like building a house without plumbing. It looks fine until you need it to function.
We needed someone who could rebuild this foundation from the ground up, and fast. That’s where Brian Griffiths of BStrong Marketing came in. Brian is a wizard with SEO and WordPress. Any time we bring him in, our sites go from invisible to indexed, fast.
With Monark Wild Rice, his work spoke volumes. Mobile optimization? Check. Speed and functionality? Absolutely. SEO that actually ranks? Within days, we saw results. And we hadn’t even started the rest of our marketing strategy yet.
Let me give you a clear example. When new tariffs rolled out, there was a spike in Canadian consumers wanting to buy Canadian-made wild rice instead of imports from California (which, spoiler alert, isn’t real wild rice). Because Brian had already optimized the Monark site for key terms like “wild rice Canada” and “wholesale wild rice,” we were ready. A buyer came in straight from search and converted immediately. That’s the power of smart SEO.
Brian didn’t just make it functional. He made sure it felt like Monark. Working with brand guidelines we developed alongside Blukki, he created a site that reflected the visual identity we had in mind. The site is fast, modern, and simple to navigate. We didn’t need to handhold. Brian took our outline and made it work, with SEO-optimized copy and layouts that direct visitors exactly where they need to go.
One technical must: we needed to shift from the old spelling of the brand to the trademarked version, Monark with a “K.” Brian handled the domain redirects seamlessly, so any old links now point users to the new site without losing traffic or search ranking.
Right now, the site is geared toward wholesale. We’re attracting restaurant suppliers, grocery chains, and chefs looking to source high-quality Canadian wild rice. Retail will come later as we expand the brand’s exposure. But the website? It’s already working as a lead funnel, and we have room to grow it even more.
Your website is where people convert. It’s your digital storefront, your brand anchor, your most valuable real estate online. If you’re building it with someone who just knows how to install a WordPress theme, you’re selling your business short.
If you’re ready to build it right, we’ll happily connect you with Brian at bstrongmarketing.com. Or just ask us for an intro. We’re more than happy to make it happen.
Because digital strategy is a funnel, and your website is where the funnel narrows and delivers. Don’t mess around with that stage. Build it to work. Build it to convert.
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