Jac n Jill Bakery, a family-owned business in Taylorsville, Kentucky, transitioned from a successful market vendor in Middletown/Eastwood to a storefront in Settlers Center. Known for handcrafted, scratch-made treats—scones, brioche, cookies, brownies, sourdough focaccia sandwiches, tarts, pies, quiche, bars, and cheesecake—paired with expertly brewed coffee, the bakery offers a cozy dine-in experience. Their commitment to fresh, natural ingredients and warm hospitality makes them a community favorite. The products that Jac n Jill Bakery create are amazing and delicious, I just needed to make sure they could be found. The customers will come back after they’ve had a taste.

As Jac n Jill Bakery prepared for their grand opening on May 29, 2025, they faced several digital hurdles:

• No Website: The bakery relied solely on a Facebook page, lacking a centralized platform to share their story, menu, hours, or location.
• No SEO Strategy: Without search engine optimization, the bakery risked missing local search traffic, especially from visitors searching “bakery near me.”
• Limited Map Visibility: No Google or Apple Maps presence made it difficult for customers to find the bakery’s address without navigating the Facebook page.
• Dynamic Menu: With a menu that changes based on ingredient availability and seasonality, customers needed a clear way to stay updated on offerings.
• Limited Hours: Operating only three days a week initially, clear communication of hours was critical to avoid customer disappointment.
• Geographic Transition: The bakery’s established Middletown/Eastwood following needed to be bridged to the new Taylorsville location without alienating loyal customers.

Foundational Growth Marketing, noticing the bakery’s sign in early May, reached out to owner Jacqueline Gottke to propose a digital strategy. With just four weeks until the opening, we built a comprehensive digital foundation. Key initiatives included:

1. Website Development

2. Digital Strategy

• Local SEO Optimization: Implemented keyword research, optimized Google My Business, and created location-specific directory listings to boost visibility in local search results.
• Social Media Enhancement: Optimized the bakery’s Facebook page with rich keywords, updated hours, and location details. Advised on a content strategy featuring product highlights, customer testimonials, and behind-the-scenes posts to drive engagement.
• Email Marketing: Added a newsletter sign-up on the website and designed an email template for seasonal specials, loyalty discounts, and new product announcements to encourage repeat visits.

3. Analytics and Tracking

• Performance Monitoring: Set up Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track user behavior and SEO performance, enabling data-driven refinements.
• Custom Dashboard: Provided Jac n Jill Bakery with a tailored dashboard to monitor website traffic, conversion rates, and social media engagement.

The new website and digital strategy delivered immediate impact during the opening week, with ongoing growth expected:

• Website Traffic: Attracted 1,362 unique visitors in the first week, driven by a mix of social media, direct traffic, Google organic search, and email marketing.
• Social Media Growth: Facebook page views surged by 493%, followers grew by 56%, and engagement rates increased by 512%, fueled by Taylorsville’s enthusiastic community and consistent, high-quality content. No paid ads.
• Community Buzz: Exceptional online reviews and social media excitement amplified the bakery’s visibility, ensuring customers knew about its high-quality, scratch-made offerings.

Foundational Growth Marketing built a robust digital foundation for Jac n Jill Bakery, transforming their online presence in just four weeks. The mobile-friendly website, local SEO, optimized social media, and email marketing strategy positioned the bakery for success, connecting them with new customers in Taylorsville while maintaining ties with their Middletown/Eastwood base. This strategic approach ensured a strong launch and set the stage for sustained growth. Any paid advertising Jac n Jill Bakery executes in the future will just be “icing on the cake”.