A market that resets every August
Every fall thousands of new Iowa State students, faculty and families arrive in Ames knowing almost nothing about local businesses. They find barbers, restaurants, mechanics, dentists and apartments the same way: on their phones. If your website and Google Business Profile aren't in good shape by move-in week, you miss a whole year's worth of new regulars.
Ames also has a strong base of permanent residents and research-park employers, and businesses here often serve Story County towns like Nevada, Huxley and Story City as well. We build sites that work for both the student rush and the year-round crowd.
How Ames customers search
These are the kinds of searches a Ames business should be ready for:
- “near me” searches from new students in August and January
- “Campustown” plus food, haircuts and nightlife
- Parent searches during move-in, orientation and game weekends
- Story County service searches from Nevada, Huxley and Gilbert
Three moves that help Ames businesses right now
You can do these yourself, today, whether or not you ever hire us:
- Get your Google Business Profile complete before fall move-in
- Add game-day and break hours to Google ahead of time
- Make sure your site is mobile-first; your audience is almost entirely on phones
Website design and local SEO services in Ames
Every Ames project starts with a free homepage mockup. From there we can build a new site, redesign an outdated one, handle local SEO, or keep everything running with a care plan. We also have specific playbooks for contractors, plumbers & hvac, salons & groomers, restaurants, dental & medical, landscapers, auto repair.
Parts of Ames we work with
- Campustown & Lincoln Way
- Main Street Cultural District (downtown)
- South Duff Avenue
- Somerset
- North Grand area
- West Ames
- Iowa State Research Park area
Ames businesses we're a great fit for
- Campustown restaurants, bars and coffee
- Barbers, salons and tattoo studios
- Auto repair and tire shops
- Property managers and landlords
- Startups and research-park companies
- Main Street boutiques
Where we're located
HIVEMIND SOLUTIONS is based right here in Ames, near the Iowa State Research Park.
Ames web design FAQ
Where are you located?
We're based in Ames, near the Iowa State Research Park. We don't have a storefront, so we meet clients by appointment at their business or a coffee shop, or by phone and video.
Do you work with startups in the Iowa State Research Park?
Yes. Early-stage companies often need a fast, credible site quickly, and our workflow is built for that.
When should an Ames business update its website?
Before fall move-in is ideal, because that's when a new wave of customers starts searching. But the best time is whenever your current site is losing you customers.