Meet Brad Haage - Owner of Starved Rock Digital Marketing
I've called this area home for my entire life, and that's not changing anytime soon. When you've lived somewhere for 50+ years, you don't just know the roads and the restaurants - you know the people, the businesses, and what makes our community tick.
I've watched local businesses come and go, seen main streets change, and understand the challenges that small business owners face in towns like ours. That local knowledge isn't something you can learn from a textbook or pick up in a weekend workshop. It comes from being part of the community.
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Too many great local businesses struggle to attract new customers online. I specialize in fixing that problem with websites that work, SEO that gets results, and advertising that brings in the right customers - all with the personal service you'd expect from a neighbor.
Over my 10+ year marketing journey, I've worked with businesses across the country in every industry you can imagine. But my favorite success stories are always the ones happening right here in our backyard. There's nothing better than driving through Northern Illinois and seeing a local business thriving because we worked together to get them found online.
I believe the best marketing combines digital expertise with genuine relationships. Your business deserves both professional results and personal attention from someone who understands what success means in a place like this.
Bringing More Customers to Local Businesses
In a world of Zoom calls and endless emails, there's something powerful about sitting down together over coffee or a cocktail to talk about your business. But I also understand that everyone has different preferences and schedules. Whether you prefer meeting face-to-face, hopping on a phone call, or connecting via Zoom, I'm flexible and happy to work with whatever option feels best for you.
I know how much your business means to you - it's not just your livelihood, it's part of who you are and what you contribute to our area. When we connect, I get to hear the passion in your voice when you talk about what you do. I see the challenges you're facing and understand the goals you're working toward. That connection makes all the difference in creating marketing that actually works for your specific situation.
Ready to connect and talk about your business? I'm looking forward to meeting you - however that works best for you. Please fill out our simple contact form on this page. Looking forward to helping your business grow!
Meeting You Where You're Comfortable
I've called this area home for my entire life, and that's not changing anytime soon. When you've lived somewhere for 50+ years, you don't just know the roads and the restaurants - you know the people, the businesses, and what makes our community tick..
I've watched local businesses come and go, seen main streets change, and understand the challenges that small business owners face in towns like ours. That local knowledge isn't something you can learn from a textbook or pick up in a weekend workshop. It comes from being part of the community
When it comes to your website, we believe in doing things right the first time. Just like building a house, your website needs a solid foundation to stand the test of time and weather any storms that come your way.
Our approach to web design is simple: create clean, professional websites that tell your story and make it easy for your neighbors to find and contact you. We're not interested in flashy bells and whistles that don't serve a purpose. Instead, we focus on building websites that actually bring in business.
The Foundation (SEO Structure & Content)
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Minimum 4,000 words of quality content across your site
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At least 1,000 words on your homepage alone - telling your story properly
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Solid keyword research focused on what locals are actually searching for
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Content that establishes you as the go-to expert in your field
Easy Ways for Customers to Reach You
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Quote request forms on every single page
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Click-to-call buttons throughout the site (because sometimes people just want to talk)
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Contact information that's impossible to miss
Built for How People Actually Use the Internet
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Mobile responsive design (most of your customers are on their phones)
-
Fast-loading, optimized images that don't slow things down
-
Clean navigation that makes sense to real people, not just web designers
Every website we create is designed to work for businesses right here in LaSalle County and the surrounding Starved Rock area. We understand that your customers are your neighbors, and your website should reflect the same personal, trustworthy service they'd get walking through your front door.
Your website isn't just a digital brochure - it's your hardest-working employee, available 24/7 to tell your story and bring in new business while you sleep.
Professional Web Design with Small-Town Values for Businesses
Here's what goes into every website we build:
Building Websites That Work as Hard as You Do
As a small business owner, every marketing dollar counts. Our strategic marketing services are designed to help you attract the right customers, build lasting brand loyalty and grow sustainably without wasting time or resources
Whether you're launching, scaling, or rebranding, we provide the tools and guidance to make marketing work for you
WEBSITE DESIGN
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"Brad has been taking care of my marketing since 2019. He uses several methods to bring in a steady flow of leads for my window tinting business. When I first met Brad, I was tinting out of my garage. I've since been able to open a good-sized shop and I have a couple of employees as well. I highly recommend Brad for local marketing. He listens, his methods work, and he truly cares about my business."
— Sebastian, Owner
Astro Tint | Joliet, IL
"When your dad is a digital marketing guy and offers to help your business, you say yes... but you also secretly worry he's going to embarrass you somehow. Well, joke's on me! Dad (Brad) built me an amazing website and his Facebook ads have been incredible. I've grown from a few students to over 50 in just one year at Fastpitch Factory. Now I'm booked solid and actually turning people away some weeks. I guess I should listen to my dad more often - don't tell him I said that!"
— Emma, Owner
Fastpitch Factory | Ottawa, IL
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Keeping Your Business Visible When Neighbors Are Searching
Ongoing SEO Services That Keep You Climbing in Local Search Results
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Just like the image caption bellow says, a website isn't a set-it-and-forget-it project. It's a job site with no finish date - and that's how you keep climbing in local search.
Think of SEO like maintaining your business property. You wouldn't build a storefront and never touch it again, right? The same goes for your online presence. Search engines are constantly changing their rules, your competitors are always trying to outrank you, and your customers are searching for new things all the time.
"I had no idea my Google Business Profile had been suspended until I realized I wasn't getting the calls I used to get. That's when I reached out to Brad for help. He walked me through the whole Google appeal process and got my listing back up and running within just a few weeks. Almost immediately, the phone started ringing again with quality leads. Brad also shared some other marketing tips that I've been implementing, and I'm already seeing results. He really knows his stuff and explains everything in a way that makes sense. I'm looking forward to working with him on some other projects for Hometown Heating and Cooling."
— Eric, Owner
Hometown Heating and Cooling | Ottawa, IL
Here's how we keep your business visible to local customers:
"I've worked with several marketing agencies over the years, but Brad stands out for one key reason - the quality of leads he delivers. While other agencies might send me tire-kickers and low-intent prospects, Brad's lead generation strategies consistently bring in people who are ready to move forward with projects. He's helped me set up multiple websites across Florida and manages both my Facebook and Google ads for American Property Veterans. The leads are higher quality and convert at a much better rate than what I was getting elsewhere. Brad really understands how to target the right people at the right time. I was so impressed that I also hired him to handle marketing for a private school with 12 locations nationwide. That's the kind of trust you earn when you consistently deliver results."
— JP, Owner
American Property Veterans | Boca Raton, FL
Regular updates to your website pages keep search engines coming back for more. We add new case studies showcasing your recent successes, update your services as they evolve, and refresh your content to match what people in LaSalle County are actually searching for.
Fresh Content That Shows You're Active
Think of backlinks like referrals in the digital world. When other trusted websites mention your business and link to your site, search engines see this as a vote of confidence. We focus on getting you mentioned by local organizations, industry associations, and other reputable sites that actually matter to your business.
Building Your Online Reputation With Quality Backlinks
Nothing builds trust like real stories of real results. We create detailed case studies of your successful projects that serve double duty - they show potential customers what you can do while also giving search engines fresh, keyword-rich content to index.
Case Studies That Sell While They Help Your SEO
Staying Ahead of the Changes
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Search engines update their algorithms hundreds of times per year. What worked last month might not work today. We monitor these changes and adjust your strategy accordingly, so you don't have to worry about suddenly disappearing from search results.
The goal isn't just to get you to the top of Google once - it's to keep you there while your competitors are still trying to figure out what happened. Ongoing SEO is like having a full-time marketing employee who never takes a day off, constantly working to keep your business visible to the people who need what you offer.
When it comes to your website, we believe in doing things right the first time. Just like building a house, your website needs a solid foundation to stand the test of time and weather any storms that come your way.
Our approach to web design is simple: create clean, professional websites that tell your story and make it easy for your neighbors to find and contact you. We're not interested in flashy bells and whistles that don't serve a purpose. Instead, we focus on building websites that actually bring in business.
The Foundation (SEO Structure & Content)
-
Minimum 4,000 words of quality content across your site
-
At least 1,000 words on your homepage alone - telling your story properly
-
Solid keyword research focused on what locals are actually searching for
-
Content that establishes you as the go-to expert in your field
Easy Ways for Customers to Reach You
-
Quote request forms on every single page
-
Click-to-call buttons throughout the site (because sometimes people just want to talk)
-
Contact information that's impossible to miss
Built for How People Actually Use the Internet
-
Mobile responsive design (most of your customers are on their phones)
-
Fast-loading, optimized images that don't slow things down
-
Clean navigation that makes sense to real people, not just web designers
Every website we create is designed to work for businesses right here in LaSalle County and the surrounding Starved Rock area. We understand that your customers are your neighbors, and your website should reflect the same personal, trustworthy service they'd get walking through your front door.
Your website isn't just a digital brochure - it's your hardest-working employee, available 24/7 to tell your story and bring in new business while you sleep.
Professional Web Design with Small-Town Values for Businesses
Here's what goes into every website we build:
Building Websites That Work as Hard as You Do
As a small business owner, every marketing dollar counts. Our strategic marketing services are designed to help you attract the right customers, build lasting brand loyalty and grow sustainably without wasting time or resources
Whether you're launching, scaling, or rebranding, we provide the tools and guidance to make marketing work for you
WEBSITE DESIGN
.png)
"Brad has been taking care of my marketing since 2019. He uses several methods to bring in a steady flow of leads for my window tinting business. When I first met Brad, I was tinting out of my garage. I've since been able to open a good-sized shop and I have a couple of employees as well. I highly recommend Brad for local marketing. He listens, his methods work, and he truly cares about my business."
— Sebastian, Owner
Astro Tint | Joliet, IL
"When your dad is a digital marketing guy and offers to help your business, you say yes... but you also secretly worry he's going to embarrass you somehow. Well, joke's on me! Dad (Brad) built me an amazing website and his Facebook ads have been incredible. I've grown from a few students to over 50 in just one year at Fastpitch Factory. Now I'm booked solid and actually turning people away some weeks. I guess I should listen to my dad more often - don't tell him I said that!"
— Emma, Owner
Fastpitch Factory | Ottawa, IL
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Getting Your Business in Front of the Right Local Eyes
Facebook Ad Management That Makes Every Dollar Count
"After trying to manage Google Ads myself and working with other agencies that burned through my budget with little to show for it, I was skeptical about trying again. But Brad's approach with Premier Dumpster Rentals has been completely different. I'm spending less money than before but getting way better results. The leads are high-intent customers who actually book rentals instead of just shopping around. Our conversion rate has improved dramatically. Combined with the new website he built for us, the whole system just works. Finally found someone who delivers what they promise."
— Darren, Owner
Premier Dumpsters | Dekalb, IL
Facebook advertising can feel like throwing money into a black hole if you don't know what you're doing. The good news? It doesn't have to be complicated to be effective. Our approach to Facebook ads is built on one simple principle: make every dollar of your ad budget work as hard as possible.
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Here's how we make Facebook ads actually work for local businesses:
We don't believe in fancy, complicated ad structures that sound impressive but don't deliver results. Instead, we create straightforward campaigns that are easy to understand, easy to manage, and most importantly - easy to track what's working and what isn't.
Keep It Simple, Keep It Effective
Your Budget Deserves Respect
Whether you're spending $300 or $3,000 a month, we treat your ad budget like it's our own money. We start conservatively, test what works in your specific market, then gradually scale up what's bringing in real customers. No wasteful spending on audiences that will never buy from you.
"When I was starting Limitless Film Solutions, I knew I needed help establishing a strong online presence from day one. Brad didn't just build me a website - he created a complete digital foundation. He built an amazing mobile-responsive site, set up my Facebook business page, optimized my Google Business Profile, and got me started with Facebook ads. Now my website ranks #1 for window tinting keywords in San Marcos, and I'm getting quality leads every single day. But what I appreciate most is that Brad didn't just set everything up and disappear. We add new case studies to the website monthly, he helps with my social media strategy, follows up on reviews, and keeps everything optimized. In just one year, he's built me a lead-generating machine that we'll keep growing year after year."
— Erik, Owner
Limitless Film Solutions | San Marcos, TX
We're constantly watching your ad performance - not just clicks and likes, but actual phone calls, form submissions, and customers walking through your door. When the numbers tell us something's working, we do more of it. When they tell us something's not, we pivot quickly.
Let the Data Do the Talking
Fresh Ads That Don't Get Stale
People scroll past ads they've seen too many times. We regularly refresh your ad images, headlines, and messaging based on what's actually getting people to take action. This keeps your ads feeling fresh and relevant to your local audience.
Facebook advertising works best when it's treated like a conversation with your neighbors, not a billboard on the highway. We help you reach the people in LaSalle County and surrounding areas who are most likely to become your next loyal customers.
Reaching Customers When They're Ready to Buy
"Broadcast Your Business to the Right People." Google Ads work differently than Facebook ads because you're not interrupting people's social media browsing - you're answering their questions when they're actively looking for what you offer.
When someone in Ottawa searches "emergency plumber near me" at 10 PM on a Sunday, or "roofing contractors LaSalle County" after a storm, they're not just browsing - they need help NOW. That's the power of Google Ads: reaching people with high intent when they're ready to make a decision.
Google Ads That Capture High-Intent Local Searches
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"Brad has been keeping my Google Business Profile and website ranking at the top for Rockford Septic Systems for several years now. As a one-man operation, this organic approach keeps me plenty busy with pump-outs and septic replacements without having to spend money on ads. When people in Rockford need septic services, they find me first. Brad's approach is perfect for my business model - steady, consistent leads from customers who are ready to book. Now that I'm looking to grow and expand, we're discussing adding Google Ads to the mix. It's great working with someone who understands that different businesses need different strategies."
— Francis, Owner
Rockford Septic Systems | Rockford, IL
Here's how we make Google Ads work efficiently for local service businesses:
We don't waste your money on broad, irrelevant searches. Instead, we focus on the specific keywords your ideal customers are actually typing into Google. "HVAC repair Ottawa IL" gets your ad dollars, while "HVAC history" doesn't.
Target Only What Matters
Whether you're spending $300 or $3,000 a month, we treat your ad budget like it's our own money. We start conservatively, test what works in your specific market, then gradually scale up what's bringing in real customers. No wasteful spending on audiences that will never buy from you.
Geographic Precision
When someone searches "emergency roof repair," our ads speak directly to that need with headlines like "24/7 Emergency Roof Repair" instead of generic "Professional Roofing Services." We match your ad message to what people are actually looking for.
Headlines That Match Intent
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Yes, Google Ads typically cost more per click than Facebook ads. But these are people who searched for your specific service and clicked on your ad because they need what you offer. The intent is much higher, which means better conversion rates and more qualified leads.
Higher Cost, Higher Value
Google Ads work best for businesses where timing matters - when people need your services, they need them now. We make sure your business is the first thing they see when they're ready to make that call.
Your Digital Storefront That Never Closes
Google Business Profile Setup & Optimization for Maximum Local Visibility
"Put Your Business On The Map On The Map." Your Google Business Profile isn't just a listing - it's often the first impression potential customers get of your business, and it shows up before your website in most local searches.
When someone searches "plumber near me" or "restaurants in Ottawa IL," Google doesn't just show a list of websites. It shows a map with local businesses, complete with photos, reviews, hours, and phone numbers. If your business isn't properly set up and optimized, you're invisible to these local searches.
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"I've been working with Brad for about 5 years now, and he's the only marketing guy who's ever delivered consistent results for Solar Control Tinting and Graphics. He's rebuilt my website multiple times as my business has grown and evolved, helped with organic lead generation and social media, and now he's running Google Ads that are producing impressive results. What I appreciate most is how he really understands my business - I only want residential and commercial window tinting leads, not automotive, and Brad has developed a keyword strategy that brings in exactly the right customers. High-intent leads that are ready to move forward. I've tried other agencies over the years, but Brad is the only one who seems to get it right every time."
— Bill, Owner
Solar Control Tinting and Graphics | Austin, TX
Here's how we make sure your business stands out in local search:
We don't just claim your listing and walk away. Every field gets filled out completely - business description, services, hours, contact information, service areas, and attributes that help customers understand what makes you special.
Complete Profile Setup
Your profile needs photos of your storefront, your team, your work, and your products or services. People want to see what they're getting before they call or visit. We help you showcase the professional quality that sets you apart from competitors.
Professional Photos That Tell Your Story
Google uses categories to understand what your business does and when to show it in search results. We select the most relevant primary and secondary categories to make sure you show up for the right searches.
Strategic Category Selection
Google rewards businesses that stay active on their profiles. We help you post regular updates about special offers, new services, seasonal hours, or company news. These posts keep your profile fresh and show Google (and customers) that you're an active, current business
Stay Active, Stay Visible
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Reviews make or break local businesses. We set up systems to encourage happy customers to leave reviews and help you respond professionally to all feedback - good and bad.
Review Management Strategy
Your business name, address, and phone number need to be identical across Google, your website, social media, and other online directories. Inconsistent information confuses Google and hurts your local rankings.
Accurate Information Everywhere
Your Google Business Profile works 24/7, answering customer questions, showcasing your work, and directing people to call or visit your business. It's like having a helpful employee who never takes a day off and always knows exactly what to say about your business.
Ready to Grow Your Business?
Whether you need a new website, want to show up higher in search results, or are ready to try advertising that actually works, I'm here to help. Every successful partnership starts with a simple conversation about your business and your goals.
Let's grab coffee, hop on a call, or meet however works best for you. I'm looking forward to learning about your business and showing you how the right digital marketing can help you reach more customers right here in Northern Illinois.
STARVED ROCK DIGITAL MARKETING
Ottawa, IL