June 25th, 2010
Typical Website Template
1. Unique Design – the custom site will give you a unique design which reflects your brand. It will have your logo, your color scheme and will completely reflect your company’s personality. Template sites leave places for your color and logo, but it looks like it was added on as an afterthought. The main advantage is that when your site looks like you, you can stand out from your competitors. Also, your audience might take you a bit more seriously as a business if your site looks professional.
2. SEO Friendly – when you have your website created by professionals, you also can be sure that it is optimized for the search engines to find. Obviously, you want to be ranked as high as possible in a search so prospective customers can find you before they find your competition. Google, Yahoo and Bing are constantly updating the rules by which they rank sites and you must stay on top of these changes to continue to get new business. At Cowtown, we follow the ever-changing guidelines for getting better rankings with major search engines.
3. Updating – as technology advances, consumer behavior changes and the overall design of a site can go stale. The custom website can be adjusted for little or no cost . Add-ons, plug-ins and special features are easy to add as you request them. Template companies will not be eager to make these changes until they think it will be profitable to offer to all of their customers simultaneously.
4. Customer Service – because template sites are fast and easy to create, most companies that offer them are interested in quantity and the customer service usually suffers. Once they sell you the template, you’re on your own. If the template fails, you’ve wasted your money. Plus, as technology advances, the template will have to be redesigned, which will cost you as much as a custom website would have cost by the time it is revamped.
For the best looking, most effective, user friendly, easily updatable website, go with a professional company. You may pay less for a template in the beginning, but it’ll cost you in the long run. If you’re interested in a new website or just updating your current site, call us for a free one-hour consultation. (913) 649-4040. To see more of our work, visit our website at www.cowtownmarketing.com.
Popularity: 19% [?]
Tags: color scheme, cowtown, major search engines, new business, personality, prospective customers, seo, technology advances, unique design
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June 16th, 2010
There’s a big difference between hiring a web designer to create your website and hiring a marketing agency to create your website. While both will probably be able to design a site that looks good, it’s the things you can’t see that will make the difference. While a web designer may ask, “What is it we’re trying to convey? and ”What look brands us best?”, a marketing agency will focus on the end user and ask questions like, “What do they need?” and “Why did they come to this site?”
The difference may seem subtle, but the bottom line is when a user gets to the actual site, if it is marketed to his/her needs, that person will stay longer, and be more likely to purchase/call/fill out a form or whatever action is desired by the website owner. It’s thinking like the customer in everything we do that differentiates us from a web designer. If you run a business, your focus should always be on the customer and their needs. The customer is who you must please. Unfortunately, the small business owner is bombarded with decisions every day and it’s very easy to lose sight of this simple fact. That’s why partnering with marketing experts is critical. We keep the promotional side of your business focused on the consumer, leaving you to do the other million things you have to do. Call us for a free one-hour marketing consultation (913) 649-4040. Or visit our website at www.cowtownmarketing.com
Popularity: 35% [?]
Tags: consultation, Cowtown Marketing Websites, marketing agency, small business owner, web designer, web designers, website owner
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May 25th, 2010
Small business owners have a lot on their plates. And every business owner has areas where they’re proficient, and areas where they need to seek outside assistance. Handling everything on your own may be acceptable in the beginning of a business cycle, however as your business grows, certain duties must be delegated to an expert. Marketing is often one area where small businesses try to handle more than they should. Hiring a Marketing Director may not yet be necessary, and there’s a fear that contracting outside help will be too expensive. But think of why you went into business in the first place. Was it because you felt you had the ability to choose the correct media vehicle to carry your message? Or that you knew you would be able to come up with the best message, offer, and layout for your campaign? Probably not.
All of these are important in making your marketing message as effective as possible, and an effective marketing message is important to business growth. Cowtown Marketing Strategies, Inc., offers hourly consulting services for small to medium-sized businesses. This may be as simple as deciphering the best proposal out of the many you’ve received from sales reps, to assisting with budget building, and developing an entire annual marketing strategy. Contact me at greg@cowtownmarketing.com or visit www.cowtownmarketing.com to learn more about marketing consulting as well as the other services we offer.
Popularity: 13% [?]
Tags: budget, business cycle, business growth, business owner, consulting services, effective marketing, expert marketing, marketing strategies, marketing strategy, media vehicle, medium sized businesses, proposal, sales reps, small business owners, small businesses, strategies inc
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May 18th, 2010
Kansas City CRM Conference - June 17th
Learn how to capture leads through online CRM and grow market share at the 2010 Kansas City CRM Conference! Customer Relationship Management is one of the most used and least understood concepts in the world of business. In one morning, three experts (including our president, Ryan Parshall) will show you how to implement and manage a CRM program that REALLY helps you acquire new business, retain current business, and maximize your customer relationships. Attend the 2010 Kansas City CRM Conference on June 17th from 8 a.m. – noon at the Overland Park Holiday Inn, 8787 Reeder Rd. $65/Seat. Seating is limited. Reservation deadline is June 14th at 5 p.m. Make your reservation today at www.kccrm.com.
Popularity: 14% [?]
Tags: crm conference, crm program, customer relationship management, customer relationships, kansas city, market share, new business, overland park
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March 23rd, 2010
A new nationwide employment website has hit the internet with the potential to turn the employment industry upside down – www.SkillSniper.com. While traditional employment websites are resume-based, SkillSniper.com focuses exclusively on skills. Users enter specific skills to create a skill profile. Prospective employers search by skills to find a true fit for the position they need to fill.
Like a sniper zeroes in on a target with skilled precision, SkillSniper helps businesses and recruiters zero in on the precise skills needed to fill a position. Titles and job descriptions from resumes can’t provide the depth of information SkillSniper.com makes available. Not only are skills listed, but years of experience as well. All of this makes it easier for the prospective employer to find a perfect fit.
But the revolutionary thinking doesn’t end with the way its set up for listing and searching. SkillSniper.com provides something no other employment website does. Namely, employers can search for free. Typically, job sites charge hundreds of dollars for employers to search for resumes. With SkillSniper.com, employers can log on, list the skill set they need, and search for free. Only when they find a good fit do they have to pay a nominal fee. “It just made so much more sense,” said Gary Hicks, owner and creator of SkillSniper. “Now businesses have a reliable place where they can start their candidate search, before spending lots of time and money. It’s a great solution for both employers and employees.”
Cowtown Marketing created the website for SkillSniper.com. Check it out and spread the word to any unemployed or unhappily employed friends.
For more information on SkillSniper.com or websites, please call Kelsey Huber at (913) 649-4040 x 102.
Popularity: 91% [?]
Tags: great solution, perfect fit, precise skills, resumes, time and money
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
March 12th, 2010
Cowtown has the privilege of working with many well-respected business owners and many well-established, reputable companies. We enjoy helping them promote their brand and message, and watching them grow. We recently launched a new website for locally-owned Safeguard Alarms. Click their logo to see their new site.
If you think all security companies are the same, you don’t know Safeguard Alarms. Bob Scales, the owner, believes that personal service and commitment to your overall safety sets his security business apart from the rest.
Unlike their national competitors, Safeguard provides custom-designed security systems. You won’t find one-size-fits-all security “packages”. If you can call and get a quote over the phone based on generic information (number of windows and doors, whether it’s a two-story or ranch, etc.), how customized can your security system really be?
With Safeguard, before they recommend any products, they visit your home or business to conduct a full Security Risk Assessment in order to identify any unique risk points. They’ll make non-alarm-system related suggestions such as adding lighting, trimming bushes or installing blinds, etc. After all, their job isn’t to sell alarm systems, it’s to ensure your safety.
Safeguard also offers month-to-month payment plans, 24-hour service and a free Security Risk Assessment. They can even provide monitoring and service for an existing system. Safeguard will design a security system that fits your needs and your budget.
To learn more about Safeguard, click this link Safeguard Alarms to check out their newly designed website or give them a call at (816) 356-9900.
Popularity: 100% [?]
Tags: alarm system, alarm systems, alarms, custom designed security, existing system, free security, full security, national competitors, reputable companies, risk points, safeguard, security business, security companies, security packages, security risk assessment, security system, that fits your needs
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March 3rd, 2010
It’s not enough anymore to merely “have a presence” on the internet. Your website is your storefront. Many customers will never see your brick and mortar store, but thousands will see your website. According to the website Internet World Stats, from 2000-2009 there has been a 134% increase in internet use. In North America, 74.2% of the population uses the internet. This number will only rise, considering the older generation uses it less on average while the younger generation uses it more. If your website is lagging behind, now is the time to get it up to snuff.
What should your website do?
1. First of all, it had better say, “You found us!” Your landing page should let your customer know they’ve reached the right site. Having your website branded to look like your business/product is important. (This can be challenging if you’re using a template-style design.)
2. Secondly, it needs to be easy to navigate. If your customer can’t get a quick answer to their question or solution to their problem, it’s just too easy to go somewhere else. This is where our marketing savvy comes in handy. Rather than ask, “What do we have to say?”, we ask the important questions like, “What is it your customer wants?” Then we make sure your site provides it.
3. Your website should be easy to find which really means search engine friendly. Make sure your site contains the most popular keywords a customer would use to search for your business. There are many “tricks” you can use to make sure your site is as optimized as possible (keywords, page descriptions, metatags, etc.) If you don’t know the tricks, talk to someone who does. You want your site to come up quickly when a search is performed to give you an edge over your competition.
Many times, all a website needs is a sprucing up. Other times a complete overhaul is in order. If you think your website might be in need of either, call us at (913) 649-4040 and we’ll have your site revved up in no time. To see more examples of what Cowtown can do, click on this link
Before and Afters.
The internet may be a virtual place, but being virtually invisible won’t get you any business there.
Popularity: 31% [?]
Tags: business product, internet use, internet world, Marketing, north america, population, presence, search engine, storefront, style design, template style, website internet, younger generation
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February 17th, 2010
I see more companies waste precious advertising dollars by making the same simple mistake. Their ads don’t brand them. By branding, I mean differentiating them from the competition. If you think by running an ad with your name on it you are branding, let me enlighten you – you’re not. Ask yourself why the consumer would choose you over your competitor. If there isn’t a clear reason, your ad isn’t working as hard as it could.
The basic principle of branding is to find something that differentiates you from your competition. Your product/service may be better, cheaper, faster, safer, softer, more effective, etc. If you can’t find a way that your product/service is different, make one up. That may sound ridiculous, but it’s absolutely critical because without differentiation, you’re just another (fill in product name here). This principle holds even truer when you have less money to promote your brand. It comes down to this: Do you want your ad to say “Hi” or “Hi, you’ll like us better than our competition because……”.
Here are three ways to critique your ads:
- So What? – Look at your ad from the consumer’s perspective and ask, “So what?” If you can’t answer the “what” part, your ad isn’t working hard enough. You can make it a lot stronger and more valuable by finding a differentiator.
- Is It Mine? – Ask this simple question – can I put my competition’s logo on my ad and have it still be true. If the answer is yes, you need to differentiate yourself.
- The Duh Factor – Does your ad tell the consumer anything other than the obvious? For example, you’re a donut shop. If your ad doesn’t at least hint at why your donuts are better, fresher, lighter, healthier, tastier, more convenient, etc., then in the consumer’s mind, you’re just another donut shop.
Whatever your differentiating message is, scream it from the rooftops in every medium you advertise in. Otherwise, you’re just wasting your money. Sure, you can argue that you got awareness and visibility, but that ad costs the same whether you add a strong branding message or not. It’s your money – make that ad work as hard as it can.
Popularity: 13% [?]
Tags: basic principle, competitor, critique, differentiation, differentiator, donut shop, donuts, mistake, money, perspective, rooftops, three ways
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December 17th, 2009
Social Media is all the rage. You hear about it everywhere. As a business owner, you may be asking yourself, “Is it worth it?” Social Media is a marketing tool. Much like the other media you use (TV, Radio, Print, Outdoor) it is a way to reach new customers. The main difference between Social Media and traditional media, is that with Social Media, your audience can respond. It creates more of a conversation and actual interaction. This interaction is priceless when it comes to creating a relationship with your customers. With traditional media, there is no conversation, just a dissemination of information from one side. Social Media allows you to get to know your customers and find out what’s important to them. Think about it. In the past, we’ve paid good money for surveys and focus groups to uncover this exact information. Now, we can get it for free!
Besides promoting your brand, another benefit of Social Media is SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for your website. By updating content online through your blog and social media, you lead consumers back to your website. Search engines love it and rank your website higher and higher with increased news, information and traffic.
Now, as a business owner, you’re very busy running a successful business. And although Blogs, Facebook and Twitter are free services, your time is valuable. That’s why we created Social Buzz – our Social Media Package. Yes, it’s important to participate in these conversations and build these relationships, but most of you simply don’t have the time to sit down and write a blog entry or Facebook post. Because you are our client and we know your business, we can do it for you. We’ll set up your blog page and give it your brand. We’ll create your Facebook and Twitter accounts and we’ll confer with you on content. Then we create it, post it and voila, you’re out there introducing yourself to new customers and building better relationships with existing customers. If you’re not sure about Social Media and would like to learn more about it and the benefits it holds for your business, give us a call and we’ll set up a FREE one-hour Social Media Consultation. Call Cowtown Marketing at (913) 649-4040.
Popularity: 27% [?]
Tags: audience, blog entry, buzz, consumers, conversations, dissemination of information, existing customers, facebook, interaction, promoting your brand, search engine optimization, twitter, website search engines
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November 30th, 2009
When it comes to websites, everybody and their brother claim to be website designers. I’ve seen dirt cheap prices, some as low as $500, for a “website”. But before you jump at a low price, make sure you know what you’re getting and more importantly, what you need. With websites, you get what you pay for.
Most designers strictly think creatively – great for design, bad for business. They aren’t considering the fact that getting leads and sales may be a critical goal of your website. Worse yet, they don’t know how to build it to achieve these goals.
Common problems with cut-rate designers include:
- Going out of business – because they didn’t charge enough to stay in business
- No marketing background – does your website close the sale, get the call, prompt a free quote, etc.
- No search engine research – they don’t keep up with the changes on the search engines to keep your website at the top.
- They offer no supportive services like SEO, SEM, e-mails to customers, etc.
- No customer service after the site is built – you can’t reach them to ask questions or get a returned call.
Bottom-line: You get what you pay for. Don’t pay for a hamburger when you need a steak. If you need a website that works, one that drives traffic and creates sales, get in touch with a marketing agency that can help you not only with design, but with function, search engine optimization and management as well. For a free 1-hour website consultation, call Cowtown Marketing at (913) 649-4040 and we can help assess your needs and make your business more successful.
Popularity: 16% [?]
Posted in Websites | 1 Comment »
