How Small Businesses Can Get More Leads With a Website That Works
The Backstory: Why I Knew It Was Time for a Website Redesign
I’m Kelsey, the owner of KO Film—my videography and photography business that creates high-impact visual content for corporate brands, travel, food, and wellness companies.
For years, my website worked well—it was exactly what I needed when I was freelancing in the Bay Area, focused mostly on photography. But my business (and I) have grown a lot since then, and my site needed to reflect that. I’ve pivoted to a videography focused business and leveled up my services after several years leading a video department for a solar company. When I got laid off in March 2024 and decided to dive fully back into freelance, I realized my site hadn’t caught up. It was stuck in 2019, still showing off old photography gigs and none of my best video work.
The site was no longer doing its job.
It wasn’t clear who I helped or what I offered. It wasn’t attracting new leads—it was just a portfolio link I sent people manually. I knew I needed a website that reflected where KO Film is now: video-first, storytelling-driven, and focused on helping brands build connections through visuals.
So I called up Allison from MediYumm, the designer who built my last site (the one that lasted me 5 years). I knew she could help me bring this new version of KO Film to life.
The Problem: My Old Website Wasn’t Working
Here’s what I was working with before:
A site that focused on outdated photography services, not my current video and photo offers.
A scattered portfolio—portraits, weddings, food, travel... it wasn’t clear what I specialized in.
No real messaging. It was more “Look what I can do!” and less “Here’s how I can help you.”
Zero leads. I wasn’t getting found online—people only saw my work if I sent them there.
If you’re a small business owner, you probably get it. You’re busy running your business, and suddenly your website is five years old, not really bringing in leads, and you’re not sure how to fix it.
That’s exactly where I was.
The Process: How MediYumm Transformed My Website (With a Little Help From AI)
Step 1: Clarify the Brand and Offers
I knew I wanted my website to:
Put video front and center
Show potential clients exactly what I offer (and how I can help them)
Feel more personal, fun, and easy to navigate
Allison asked the right questions to pull this vision out of my brain and make it real.
Step 2: Visual & Functional Redesign
The homepage is now video-first. Visitors land on a dynamic page with:
A looping reel showcasing my work
A clear tagline and skills banner (videographer, photographer, editor)
A quick intro about me (because you’re hiring me, not an agency)
Easy-to-find services with visual examples
Simple calls to action (“Let’s Work Together!”)
The site design feels fun, vibrant, and aligned with my brand. Plus, the navigation is clean:
Work | Blog | About | Contact
Easy for visitors to find what they need without endless clicking.
On my Video page, I showcase three core services with multiple videos in each category to keep viewers engaged.
My Photo page is streamlined to event photography only (instead of ten different services like before). Now, potential clients immediately know what I offer and whether I’m the right fit.
Step 3: Writing Copy (With a Little AI Help!)
As a visual creator, writing copy doesn’t come naturally. That’s where ChatGPT was a game changer.
Allison used AI to draft page copy ideas so I could see the flow. Then I customized it to sound like me—keeping it conversational, clear, and helpful.
The About Me page is a great example. It went through several iterations, but now it tells my story in a way that connects with visitors. They get to know who I am and why I do what I do.
Step 4: SEO + Blogging Strategy
Once the site was live, I started using AI to help with my blog strategy:
Brainstorming blog topics
Drafting posts
Optimizing posts and pages for SEO
My goal was to attract businesses looking for video services who might be searching for things like:
“Corporate event videographer”
“Video testimonials for small businesses”
“Corporate social responsibility videos”
This strategy worked:
Blog posts are now in my top 10 pages by page views
They’re keeping visitors on my site longer
SEO clicks, impressions, and rankings are up
The Results: Traffic Up. Leads Growing. Brand Awareness Boosted.
Here’s what’s happened since the June 2024 redesign:
Website visits are up 434% year-over-year
Unique visitors up 366%
Page views up 499%
Average time on page up from 60 seconds to 101 seconds
Keyword clicks and impressions have doubled
Bounce rate has dropped slightly (still room to improve!)
Even better?
I’ve booked bigger clients (like ESA Summit)
I’m seeing more inquiries through the website
I’m growing my presence on Instagram and LinkedIn alongside the website
Why This Worked (And How It Can Work for You)
What made the biggest difference?
✅ A website aligned with my brand
✅ Clear messaging that speaks directly to my ideal clients
✅ Visual storytelling (photo + video examples)
✅ Regular blog posts optimized for SEO
✅ Using AI as a tool, not a shortcut (I still shaped the messaging to be personal and human)
If your website isn’t bringing in leads (or it doesn’t reflect where your business is now), it’s time for a refresh.
Want a Free Website Audit?
If you’re wondering whether your site is working for you—or if there’s room for improvement—let’s find out!
We’re offering free website audits for small businesses who want better brand visibility and more leads online.
👉 Fill out the form here and let’s take a look together.
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing like the feeling of knowing your website matches the business you’ve worked so hard to build. When we finally hit “publish” on the new KO Film site, it was this huge wave of excitement and relief all at once. It’s clean, it’s clear, and it’s completely me.
If you’ve grown out of your old website (or your brand just feels a little “meh” these days), take this as your nudge. You deserve a digital home that reflects where you’re headed, not just where you’ve been.