DESIGNLOUD GIVES BACK One business. Once a year. Completely free. Chosen by the community.

DesignLoud Gives Back is our annual community program that provides one deserving Wilmington-area business with the digital tools they need to be found online, build credibility, and continue growing.

This isn't a marketing stunt. It's an opportunity to use the skills we use every day to help a local business that may not have the resources to invest in a professional website, local SEO, or digital marketing support.

Know a business that deserves a boost?

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WHY WE'RE DOING THIS

  • Every community has businesses that quietly do great work.
  • The family-owned restaurant that knows every customer by name.
  • The barber who has been serving the neighborhood for years.
  • The florist who never misses an important occasion.
  • The mechanic who keeps everyone on the road.
  • They've built their reputation through hard work, word of mouth, and exceptional service. But sometimes their online presence doesn't tell the same story.
  • We want to help change that.

Through DesignLoud Gives Back, we'll select one local business and provide a complete digital foundation designed to help them attract more customers and create new opportunities for growth.

HOW WE'RE HELPING ONE LOCAL BUSINESS GROW Every business has different needs. We’ll build the foundation that gives this year’s recipient the greatest opportunity to grow. Not just another website. A lasting investment in their future.

Not just a new website. A website designed to build trust, tell your story, and turn visitors into customers.

Templates, strategy, recommendations, and guidance so you’re not staring at a blank screen wondering what to post

Google Business Profile optimization, local SEO, and the technical foundation to help people actually find you online

We’ll help you understand where to invest your time, your budget, and your energy so every marketing dollar works harder.

We’ll review progress, answer questions, adjust the strategy if needed, and help you keep the momentum going.

If needed, we’ll improve your branding so your business looks as professional as the work you do.

We’ll measure what matters so we can make decisions based on data instead of guesswork.

There isn’t a fixed prize package because every business is different. We’ll focus our time, talent, and resources where they’ll create the biggest impact for this year’s recipient.

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WHO THIS OPPORTUNITY IS FOR

We're looking for businesses that are doing great work but could use a little help getting found online.

To qualify, businesses should:

  • Be locally owned in the Wilmington area
  • Have been operating for at least one year
  • Have an outdated website or limited online presence
  • Have fewer than 10 employees or under $500,000 in annual revenue
  • Be willing to participate in the process
  • Be able to provide content and assets in a timely manner

This opportunity is designed for businesses that genuinely need support, not businesses that already have a polished digital presence.

HOW THE SELECTION PROCESS WORKS

STEP 1

Community nominations are submitted through our private nomination form

STEP 2

Our team reviews every nomination and selects 3-5 finalists.

STEP 3

Finalists are featured publicly and invited to participate.

STEP 4

The community votes for the business they believe would benefit most from the program.

STEP 5

DesignLoud combines community voting with our internal evaluation process to select the winner.

Selection is based on:

  • Community impact
  • Demonstrated need
  • Strength of story
  • Potential for measurable results
  • Overall program fit

This helps ensure the selected business is not simply the one with the largest network, but the one we can genuinely help the most.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Nominations Open

July 9, 2026

Nominations Close

July 23, 2026

Finalists Announced

July 24, 2026 - July 26, 2026

Community Voting

July 27, 2026 - August 2, 2026

Winner Announced

August 6, 2026

LET'S HELP A LOCAL BUSINESS GROW

Know a local business that deserves a boost? Tell us their story below. We review every nomination and select finalists based on community impact, need, and growth potential.

It only takes a minute to nominate someone who's making a difference.

1Your Details
2Business Details
Your Name(Required)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I nominate my own business?

Absolutely. We'd love to hear your story. Self-nominations are welcome and will be reviewed alongside all other submissions.

Does the winner pay anything?

How is the winner chosen?

What happens after the project is complete?

Can anyone nominate a business?

Highly Rated Agency What Our Fans Say About Us.

DesignLoud, Inc
4.8
Based on 189 reviews
Highly recommend DesignLoud! Derek was fantastic to work with. He was incredibly knowledgeable and made the entire process so easy. His expertise and professionalism were next level. If you’re looking for high-quality website support and exceptional customer service, I highly recommend Derek and DesignLoud!
The webinar was excellent. I am quite excited about using Claude now. Thanks Derek!
Derrick provided an educational workshop with CFCC's Small Business Center regarding marketing and advertising with Google Ads. The class was very insightful and I would recommend his services.
Good overview of how Google ads work, and how to leverage AI to get it done.
Attended a workshop led by Derek Schmidt. It was so insightful and he provided so much great information!
Derek Schmidt is truly an expert marketer! I have been fortunate to have the privilege of him being an instructor of several free marketing classes offered by the Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) Small Business Center. As a new small business owner, his tips and tricks have been extremely beneficial for me to embrace to help grow my client base! Thank you, Derek!
Derek is awesome to work with. He listened to what I said I needed help with and followed through on what he said he would do. Appreciate that he seemed to have my best interests in mind, not trying to up-sell me on things that wouldn't actually matter. Seems like a legitimately good, honest person to work with.
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