Baseline Creative, Author at Baseline Creative | Wichita Web Design and Integrated Marketing

Jul 12

Join us at the 9th Annual Create Campaign Forum

By Baseline Creative Blog

Baseline Creative’s Bridgette West-Williams, MBL, Featured Workshop Presenter

Event Image for 9th Annual Create Campaign Forum, — *Event promotional image featuring Bridgette’s headshot and event details.*

We invite our clients, friends, and collaborators to join us at the 9th Annual Create Campaign Forum: Certified for Business. Our own VP Bridgette West-Williams, MBL will be a featured workshop speaker. The Forum is Saturday, July 22, 2023, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., at Wichita State University, Woolsey Hall, 1845 Fairmount. Plan to come as you are and attend Wichita’s largest minority business development symposium planned with you in mind. Free Event. Register online.

The Forum, is the signature business development event for minority entrepreneurs and business owners, and features workshops, panel discussions, keynote speakers and networking opportunities to provide resources, insight and inspiration to diverse entrepreneurs. The Baseline team will be at the event to discuss opportunities and services we provide, and Bridgette will be a featured presenter on Marketing 101 during the 11:30 a.m. workshop. Attendees need to register for this free event in advance.

Attendees at the Forum can look forward to a dynamic and interactive presentation on Marketing 101, where Bridgette will condense years of practice and experience into marketing tips and tricks for individuals of all skill levels to build and learn. Bridgette is the Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Baseline Creative and has been a leader on our team since the spring of 2015. Her background encompasses expertise in marketing, brand development, strategy, public relations, crisis communications, and business development.

Bridgette serves as an advisor and coach to Baseline’s clients across a wide array of industries, categorized as small and mid-sized businesses. She has served in leadership roles in her career and community in higher education, health care, nonprofit, and in retail sales and merchandising. Bridgette’s formal education includes undergraduate studies in public relations and political science at Kansas State University, and a Master of Business Law from Friends University. She also holds certificates in diversity, equity, and inclusion [and belonging], and women in leadership. She is also a certified DEI facilitator specializing in the intersectionality and identity, and works with businesses to encourage cultures where living genuinely and authentically even in the workplace is encouraged.

Earlier this year, Bridgette worked with entrepreneurs in the Create Campaign Spark Community Business Academy as a marketing success sprint mentor. Spark provides hands-on business training with curriculum and coaching tailored to minority entrepreneurs. This 12-week program is designed for new and growing for-profit businesses. Bridgette met with and advised entrepreneurs on marketing tactics to help grow their business and learn technical skills to help support those efforts. You can connect with Bridgette to learn more about business coaching and mentorship on LinkedIn, or by reaching out to us on via our contact form.

The work Bridgette does for Baseline Creative and our clients aligns directly with the mission of Create Campaign. Create Campaign, Inc. is a minority business development nonprofit that is advancing inclusion in entrepreneurship and evolved from a half-day entrepreneurship forum in 2015 to a leading and trusted innovator providing culturally-relevant business training, technical assistance, and micro-lending to diverse entrepreneurs.

With a sole focus on building strong, minority-owned businesses, Create Campaign and its partners are closing gaps and removing barriers of entry to ensure that minority entrepreneurs have access to resources and knowledge to experience the fullness of business ownership in ways that can lead to generational wealth and sustainability. Together, we make the difference.

Create Campaign Forum: Certified for Business

Saturday, July 22, 2023
8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Wichita State University, Woolsey Hall, 1845 Fairmount St, Wichita, KS
Register ASAP!

Jul 06

login, form, password, information, security, privacy, protection, protect, identity, secure. business man now is login user password after that account hud. information security privacy identity.

The Critical Role of Strong Passwords in Website Security and Data Protection

By Baseline Creative Blog

In today’s digital age, where cyber threats are ever-present, ensuring the security of websites and safeguarding user data has become paramount. One of the fundamental steps toward achieving robust website security is implementing strong passwords. In this blog post, we will explore why strong passwords are crucial, discuss best practices for generating secure passwords, highlight the importance of data protection and website security, address GDPR compliance requirements for companies that process personal data, or those who sell goods and services or monitor activities of people in the European Union, and shed light on the risks companies face when failing to respond adequately to security issues and data breaches.

Why Use Strong Passwords?

Passwords act as the first line of defense against unauthorized access and protect sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands. Weak passwords are easily guessed or cracked by malicious actors, leaving websites and user data vulnerable to attacks. Strong passwords significantly enhance security by making it exponentially harder for cybercriminals to breach accounts, networks, or systems.

Best Practices for Generating Strong Passwords

There are several standards that should be followed to generate strong passwords.

Create passwords with a minimum length of 12 characters, including a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Longer passwords with greater complexity are more resistant to brute-force and dictionary-based attacks.

Do not use obvious patterns like sequential numbers or letters, repeated characters, or common words. Cybercriminals often use automated tools that can quickly identify and exploit such patterns.

Each website or online service should have a unique password. Avoid reusing passwords across different accounts, as it increases the risk of multiple accounts being compromised if one password is breached. Consider using a password manager to generate and securely store unique passwords for each account. LastPass, the password management tool in a recent study reported that 92% of people know that reusing the same password for multiple sites isn’t secure, but 65% do it anyway.

Set a reminder to update passwords periodically, preferably every 90 days, to stay ahead of emerging threats. Regularly changing passwords reduces the risk of unauthorized access due to compromised credentials.

Importance of Data Protection and Website Security

Websites handle vast amounts of user data, including personal, financial, and confidential information. Failing to prioritize data protection and website security can result in severe consequences such as fines and penalties, reputation damage, and legal and compliance issues.

Data breaches can lead to financial losses resulting from legal penalties, customer compensation, and reputational damage. Companies may face regulatory fines and lawsuits if they are found negligent in protecting user data.

Consumers prioritize their privacy and security. A data breach can erode customer trust, resulting in a damaged reputation, decreased customer loyalty, and a loss of business opportunities.

Various regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), require businesses to implement adequate security measures to protect user data. Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to significant penalties and legal consequences.

GDPR, implemented by the European Union, mandates strict regulations regarding data protection and privacy. Key requirements for GDPR compliance related to passwords include strong authentication, data protection, and notification of any breaches.

Strong authentication and the use of strong passwords are essential for GDPR compliance. Organizations must ensure that user accounts are protected by tough passwords to prevent unauthorized access to personal data.

Data should be encrypted both in transit and at rest to minimize the risk of unauthorized access. Additionally, organizations should consider anonymizing or pseudonymizing data to further protect user privacy.

In the event of a data breach, organizations must promptly notify affected individuals and relevant authorities. Failure to do so can result in severe penalties.

GDPR applies to two primary categories of entities including those that process personal data whether they have a physical presence in the EU as well as companies outside the EU.

Companies or entities that process personal data as part of their activities, regardless of whether they are established within the EU. This includes organizations with branches or subsidiaries in the EU, regardless of where the data processing takes place.
The other category of companies includes those established outside the EU that offer goods or services (paid or free) to individuals within the EU or monitor the behavior of EU residents. These companies must comply with GDPR to ensure the protection of personal data of EU citizens.

The scope of GDPR is extensive and encompasses various industries, including technology, healthcare, finance, and e-commerce. While not all websites built by Baseline Creative may fall under the direct jurisdiction of GDPR, adhering to its principles can enhance website security, protect data, and minimize legal liabilities.

Risks of Inadequate Security Response and Data Breaches

Companies that do not adequately respond to security issues and data breaches face several risks, including financial consequences, damage to your company’s reputation, and regulatory penalties and legal liabilities.

The cost of mitigating a data breach can be substantial, involving forensic investigations, remediation efforts, legal expenses, and potential compensation to affected individuals.

A data breach can cause significant harm to a company’s reputation, leading to a loss of customer trust and potential business partnerships. Rebuilding a tarnished reputation takes time and resources.

Regulatory authorities can also impose substantial fines for non-compliance with data protection laws. Organizations may also face lawsuits from affected individuals seeking compensation for damages resulting from the breach.

Strong Passwords Protect Your Business

Strong passwords play a vital role in safeguarding websites and protecting user data from cyber threats. By following best practices for generating and managing passwords, organizations can significantly enhance website security, ensure data protection, comply with regulations like GDPR, and avoid the severe consequences associated with security breaches. Prioritizing strong passwords is a fundamental step toward building a robust security posture in the digital landscape. When building sites, Baseline Creative understands the importance of security and uses industry best practices to ensure our clients’ sites are safe and compliant with regulations. If you’re unsure about your website data protection and privacy compliance, ask our team of experts how we can help.

Jun 23

Paden James – Young Professional in Marketing Award

By Baseline Creative Blog

Paden James, Digital Content Manager at Baseline Creative has been honored by the Wichita Business Journal as a Young Professional in Marketing.

Paden creates social media strategies and content for our clients. As a Google-certified partner, Paden manages Google ads for clients and builds strategies to continually improve the performance of paid search and social media ads.

While living in Los Angeles, Paden worked in audio engineering on video games, as well as a Voiceover Engineer, Dialogue Editor, and Sound Designer on films. As a Digital Content Manager, Paden has achieved certifications in various platforms for digital marketing and advertising, as well as strategy and copywriting.

Congratulations Paden!

We’re thrilled to have Paden as part of our Baseline Creative team as he embodies these digital marketing standards, and we are excited he was selected as a Young Professional in Marketing! Paden is conscientious and demonstrates best practices in the industry.

Best Practices in Digital Marketing

The Wichita Business Journal focuses on young professionals who are up and coming in the field of marketing. As the field of digital marketing continues to grow and evolve, it’s essential that those in the profession work to be conscientious of effective and ethical practices.

Here are some actions a conscientious digital marketer may take:

Staying updated with industry trends: Digital marketing is a constantly evolving field, and a conscientious marketer keeps up with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices. They actively seek out industry news, attend webinars or conferences, and engage in continuous learning to stay ahead of the curve.
Adhering to ethical standards: operating with integrity and following ethical guidelines. They prioritize transparency, honesty, and respect for user consent and preferences.
Conducting thorough research: Before implementing any marketing strategy or campaign, a conscientious marketer conducts comprehensive research. This includes understanding the target audience, market trends, competitors, and relevant data. They use research findings to inform decision-making and develop effective strategies.
Prioritizing user experience: best practices focus on creating a positive user experience across all digital touchpoints. They ensure that websites and landing pages are user-friendly, accessible, and optimized for different devices. They also consider factors like page load speed, intuitive navigation, and engaging content to enhance user satisfaction.
Personalizing marketing efforts: Conscientious marketers understand the importance of personalization in today’s digital landscape. They use data-driven insights to tailor marketing messages, offers, and experiences to individual customers. By understanding customer preferences and behavior, they can create targeted campaigns that resonate with the audience and drive better results.
Monitoring and optimizing campaigns: regularly monitoring the performance of marketing campaigns using analytics tools. They analyze key metrics and make data-driven decisions to optimize campaigns, improve conversion rates, and maximize return on investment. They test different strategies, adjust tactics, and refine messaging to achieve better outcomes.
Engaging in responsible data management: Data privacy and security are paramount in digital marketing. A thoughtful marketer takes steps to protect customer data, comply with privacy regulations (such as GDPR or CCPA), and obtain proper consent for data collection and usage.
Encouraging transparency and authenticity: ethical marketers emphasize transparency in their communications and interactions with clients and also strive to create authentic connections with the audience by sharing genuine stories, values, and brand identity.
Seeking feedback and continuous improvement: our collaborative team actively seeks feedback from customers, colleagues, and stakeholders. They welcome constructive criticism, evaluate the effectiveness of marketing initiatives, and use feedback to improve strategies and tactics. They have a growth mindset and are open to learning from both successes and failures.

By practicing these behaviors, a digital marketer can contribute to a positive and ethical digital marketing environment while driving successful outcomes for the business and maintaining trust with customers.

Jun 21

a person holds a mobile phone with Google Analytics displayed on the screen

The Time is Now: Why Converting to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) Before July 1 is Crucial

By Baseline Creative Uncategorized

In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, staying ahead of the curve is paramount. With the launch of Google Analytics 4 (GA4), website owners and marketers are faced with an urgent deadline. They must migrate their existing Google Analytics properties to GA4 before July 1, 2023. Any website that isn’t converted to GA4 by the end of June will lose all historical traffic data and will not track any new analytics—essentially leaving your business without the information needed for future marketing success.

In this blog post, we will explore the importance of this transition and why your website should be converted no later than June 29, 2023. We also share how Baseline Creative can help!

GA4—The Future of Analytics

GA4 represents a significant leap forward in web analytics, providing a more comprehensive and advanced framework to understand user behavior. With a focus on cross-device tracking, machine learning, and privacy enhancements, GA4 is designed to address the evolving needs of the digital landscape. By migrating to GA4, you position yourself to leverage its advanced capabilities and ensure you’re not left behind as the industry progresses.

Tracks All Your Data in One Place

One of the most significant advantages of GA4 is its ability to unify data collection across multiple platforms. It seamlessly integrates data from websites, mobile apps, and other digital touchpoints, giving you a holistic view of user interactions. This enables you to gain deeper insights into the customer journey, identify key conversion points, and optimize your marketing strategies accordingly.

Learn More About Your Users

GA4 places a stronger emphasis on individual user behavior rather than relying solely on session-based data. It introduces the concept of user-centric reporting, allowing you to track and analyze the actions of individual users over multiple sessions and devices. This approach provides a more accurate understanding of user engagement, enabling you to tailor your marketing efforts based on personalized insights.

Privacy and Consent Management

Privacy concerns are at the forefront of today’s digital landscape. GA4 addresses this by offering enhanced privacy features. It includes built-in consent management tools and gives users greater control over their data. By migrating to GA4, you demonstrate your commitment to privacy and ensure compliance with evolving data protection regulations.

Future-Proof Your Analytics Setup

The clock is ticking. Google has set June 30, 2023, as the deadline for migrating to GA4. By making this transition before the deadline, you future-proof your analytics setup. It allows you to stay ahead of the curve and take advantage of any new features or updates that Google rolls out exclusively for GA4 users.

Need Conversion? We Can Help!

Converting to Google Analytics 4 is not just an option; it is a necessity. Baseline Creative is making this process as easy as possible for business owners. We are offering a one-time low-cost fee of $75 to complete the conversion process. Business owners can fill out this form to have Baseline start the GA4 conversion process on their website.

With its advanced capabilities, unified data collection, user-centric reporting, privacy enhancements, and future-proofing benefits, GA4 provides an opportunity for website owners and marketers to gain deeper insights into user behavior and optimize their digital strategies accordingly.

As the July 1 deadline approaches, it is crucial to take action now and migrate to GA4. Doing so will ensure that you will keep your historical data, continue to track your website analytics, and are well-positioned to stay competitive and make data-driven decisions that propel your business forward in this rapidly evolving digital landscape. Don’t miss out on the benefits of GA4—embrace the future of analytics today!

Mar 27

Ben Voth – Young Professional in Technology Award

By Baseline Creative Uncategorized

Ben Voth, Director of Web and Technology at Baseline Creative is being honored by the Wichita Business Journal as a Young Professional in Technology.

Ben has been at Baseline since 2007 and was the first official employee outside of principal and owner, Nathan Williams. Ben has served as the lead developer for the Baseline team since that time and has built hundreds of websites and mobile applications. In his role, Ben is responsible for leading the development team and ensuring that best practices are applied to every project.

In addition to overseeing functionality and code on client websites, Ben is the lead developer on PetBridge, an animal shelter software developed by Baseline. Ben is the driving force behind Petbridge projects and helps shelter teams determine the best functionality for their needs.

One of Ben’s best qualities is his patience. Ben is a great teacher and patient with our team and clients when teaching new skills, or training clients how to use their websites.

Baseline is proud to have Ben as a part of our leadership team and we’re happy he was chosen as a Young Professional in Technology!

Oct 07

Bridgette West-Williams Honored for Marketing Strategy and Leadership

By Baseline Creative Uncategorized

Bridgette West-Williams, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Baseline Creative is being honored by the Wichita Business Journal with a 2022 Marketing Award. Bridgette and other award recipients are being honored for utilizing marketing strategy and strategic planning for clients as well as their own companies. Award recipients also demonstrate corporate responsibility and involvement in the community.

At Baseline Creative, Bridgette is responsible for driving the digital marketing team and developing the marketing strategy used for client work. Additionally, Bridgette has tirelessly worked to develop strategic initiatives at Baseline to improve processes and drive success. As a community leader, Bridgette offers her time to various community nonprofit organizations. Bridgette’s current involvement includes the role as an officer on the board of ICT S.O.S., mentorship through Friends University, and a commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), which she brings to every organization in which she serves.

Baseline is proud to have Bridgette as part of our leadership team and we celebrate this Marketing Award honor with her!

Jun 29

a laptop is open with a document and a pencil representing website content

Why is Content Important for SEO?

By Baseline Creative Blog

If your business has a website, chances are you’ve thought about your search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is a tool that helps Google and other search engines find your website when a user requests data. The better the SEO you have on your site, the more likely it is that search engines will offer your website in their search results. While many factors go into setting up successful SEO, one critical element is the content on your website.

Why is Content Important for SEO?

Content is king for SEO. In fact, without content, your website won’t be optimized enough to rank significantly. Search engine ranking is important because 95% of people never navigate past the first page of search results. Every month there are 40-60 billion searches on Google, so the field of content optimization is highly competitive. You need to utilize every tool in your toolbelt to increase the likelihood of your website appearing on the first page. Content is one of the most important tools.

Keywords are Key

One of the most important factors in SEO is choosing the appropriate keyword. Keywords are terms that are often used when people are searching for a business like yours. Keywords should be re-evaluated regularly to make sure they are still relevant and if so, worked into the content on your website in a natural way.

In the early days of the internet, websites would “stuff” keywords into their content which initially was successful in getting your page to rank higher. However, Google now updates their algorithm regularly and keyword stuffing is frowned upon and can negatively affect your ranking.

Once your keywords are researched, they must be implemented naturally in the content itself. The keywords need to be balanced against several factors, one of which is the number of times the keyword is used in the content. Depending on the length of the content, the number of times the keyword is used will change.

Readability is Important

Aside from keywords, good website content will be well-written. Search engines do look at readability to determine how easy a page is to read, as well as how relevant the content is to the keyword and the page. The number of words the page includes is another component search engines consider in ranking. While it’s tempting to limit content on your website’s pages, there must be a good balance between relevant content that is helpful to the user, and too little content that doesn’t provide enough information for search engines to find.

Content organization, including selecting the right headlines, and subheads also plays a significant part in good optimization. Links, and optimizing metadata in the content and on the page are also essential for good SEO.

Blogs Improve Content

Monthly blogs are a great way to continue to incorporate new keywords into your website without constantly updating the content on your main pages. Google and other search engines consider sites that have continuous new content more relevant than stagnant sites. Blogs can be optimized for keywords as well as questions people ask search engines. For example, someone might search for “why do dogs eat grass?” and blog posts successfully optimized for that search inquiry could be included in the results.

Is Your Content Optimized?

At Baseline Creative, we include content search engine optimization in our web builds. We do the research and optimize the content as we either migrate it from existing sites or write new content. But because Google is constantly updating and changing, we also encourage clients to keep up the momentum with monthly SEO optimization. Our digital strategy team does monthly research, reviews analytics, writes content for monthly blogs, and/or updates content on our clients’ websites. Our Google-certified team does the legwork to help your site continue to perform well for your business.

If you’re interested in monthly SEO services including blogs, contact us! We would love to see how we can help your business grow.

May 12

Baseline Creative UpCity 2022 Local Excellence Award

Baseline Creative Announced as a 2022 Local Excellence Award Winner by UpCity!

By Baseline Creative Blog

For more than a decade, UpCity’s mission has been—and continues to be—to help businesses find B2B service providers they can trust. The UpCity Recommendability Rating was developed to determine a service provider’s credibility and recommendability, giving UpCity the confidence to recommend them to the more than 2 million businesses that visit their site.

Each year, UpCity analyzes and scores more than 70,000 service providers based on their UpCity Recommendability Rating and acknowledges the top national and local providers with an UpCity Excellence Award. The results are in, and we won!

We are proud to announce that the Baseline Creative team has been recognized as one of the top B2B service providers of 2022 in the Wichita area by UpCity!

Jack Thornburg, VP of Organic Growth at UpCity, had this to say about Baseline Creative:

“Baseline Creative continuously demonstrates that high-quality results and caring customer service don’t have to be mutually exclusive. We’re proud to name them a 2022 Local Excellence Award winner! Congratulations!”

—Jack Thornburg, VP of Organic Growth, UpCity

This recognition has been driven in large part by our 5-star review rating on UpCity. Here are a few of our favorite pieces of feedback we’ve received from our incredible customers:

“Everyone at Baseline Creative is so nice and so talented! Updating our sadly aged website should have been a nightmare, instead, it was a pleasure. Changes were made so quickly and advice and feedback were excellent. We recommend them highly and look forward to them managing our online business presence for years to come!” – Rosanne T., August 2021
“Working with Baseline Creative has been a great experience. They have been insightful in planning, talented in design, and timely in deployment. Besides being consulate professionals, the staff at Baseline are just great people. We will work with Baseline Creative for a long time to come.” – Neil B., June 2021

We’d like to thank UpCity for their support. It’s such an honor to be included amongst the best of the best. We also want to thank our customers for all of your love and support over the years. Here’s to greater success ahead!

Learn more about the UpCity Excellence Awards.

Apr 08

Bridgette West-Williams 40 Under 40 Honoree

By Baseline Creative The Team

We are excited to announce that Bridgette West-Williams, Vice President at Baseline Creative, is a Wichita Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree. Bridgette joined Baseline in 2015. Her focus involves organizational development and leadership. Bridgette’s efforts on culture and infrastructure building have significantly increased employee satisfaction scores. In 2021, Baseline received the Best Place to Work for Small Businesses by the Wichita Business Journal.

Achieving Success Through Processes

“Bridgette is the kind of leader who mentors her staff. She takes the time to check in on team members to not only inquire about workflow and balance but also genuinely wants to know how we are doing personally,” said Andrea Anglin, Agency Director. “Bridgette puts processes in place to increase our overall efficiency and help us provide even better results for clients.” These new processes and business developments have helped Baseline achieve even more success over the past seven years.

Community Involvement

Bridgette is also a leader in the community with her volunteer work. Currently, she is an at-large board member for ICT S.O.S. and is on the fundraising committee. Recently she was on the board for the League of Women Voters Wichita Metro and was the Diversity Equity and Inclusion chair for the state organization. She has served on the boards of GLSEN, and the Arthritis Foundation, was a member of Young Professionals of Wichita also chairing the marketing committee, and was the Kansas State Lead for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “Bridgette is extremely generous with her time and talent,” said Nathan Williams, Principal, and owner of Baseline. “She has a heart for the people in our community, especially those who are marginalized. She’s always supporting causes that make Wichita, and Kansas, a better place for everyone to live.”

Congratulations, Bridgette!

We are incredibly proud of Bridgette West-Williams and her 40 Under 40 Accomplishment and for her leadership at Baseline! The team is thankful for her drive, passion, and mentorship.

View the official Wichita Business Journal article here!

Apr 04

Baseline Bread

By Baseline Creative Blog

At Baseline Creative, we bake care into everything we do. You may be thinking, what does bread have to do with a full-service marketing company? Our founder, Nathan Williams, has been working to perfect the craft of fresh baked bread since founding Baseline Creative in 2006.

“When I started, I literally worked out of my home. Our small staff would meet there around my kitchen table with laptops to work. Clients would come to my house for meetings and sit around the same kitchen table. Sometimes I would have made fresh bread for all to enjoy.”

Creating the Right Culture

We no longer work around that same kitchen table, but we still break bread together. Clients, friends, and team members alike have experienced the joy of Nathan’s fresh-baked bread. This culture and inviting spirit are what helped Baseline Creative earn the title of Best Place to Work for Small Business in 2021. In honor of Baseline Bread and National Sourdough Day, we asked Nathan to share some tips and insights on the bread-making process.

Nathan’s Sourdough Tips

It’s more important to pay attention to your dough than any recipe you’ll ever read when you’re working with sourdough.
Stretch and fold is the most beneficial technique for kneading, but mix it up and try a gravity-based knead, too! Grab your dough and allow half of it to slowly fall. Turn it and stretch (almost like taffy).
Pain Paladin is a wonderful alternative to standard sourdough. Just add 1/4 cup or so of olive oil to your dough. It will be more elastic and the surface will retain more of the gases while the bread rises.
Your starter is the most important ingredient in sourdough bread. Feed it a variety of different flour types to increase its resilience. It will reward you with more vigorous fermentation than a monofed base.
The starter is designed to thrive in harsh conditions, so remember that occasional culture stress actually improves its ability to adapt.
Using a Dutch oven creates an ideal environment for baking and attaining the “pro level” crust and rise. Preheat the cast iron for 30-45 minutes, then add a drop of oil or cornmeal and then your bread. Make sure you score it with a knife or lamé (a razor blade on a stick) so it has a place to vent all that glorious steam. Bake covered for the first 15-20 minutes or so, then finish uncovered. Make it as tan, brown, or black as you like.

Baking bread for friends and clients - sourdough bread images

Baked with Care for Our Clients

Good business is like a good bread recipe. You must have just the right ingredients, and the right amount of kneading and work to make it rise to be a successful bake. It takes time, attention, and focus to be successful in baking as in business. It doesn’t hurt to bring actual bread into the workplace either. We love to celebrate success with old and new friends and hope you have as much fun baking your own bread as Nathan does! Ready to get baking? Contact us!