tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25731144320889005962024-03-13T17:16:50.848-05:00Freshly BrewedMore fresh thoughts from <a href="http://www.agencycreative.com/">Agency Creative</a>Mark Wyatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15309102904443736685noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-7698433721731439132010-02-25T16:52:00.003-06:002010-02-25T17:04:31.462-06:00Supercharge Your E-blasts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wE_900jBYPsTMWyyvYRKlfZKyVpKtBrHNq3qz5qV3cL6dqynT0i70gTv5HqYonqPKd981tNmEEnkFQZJetCQerIKemNGiYHVnMZ8okxyr0CAC-WoeelxaovFQVOQkBdfFB1NVgWA93jX/s1600-h/2-25-10-supercharge.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wE_900jBYPsTMWyyvYRKlfZKyVpKtBrHNq3qz5qV3cL6dqynT0i70gTv5HqYonqPKd981tNmEEnkFQZJetCQerIKemNGiYHVnMZ8okxyr0CAC-WoeelxaovFQVOQkBdfFB1NVgWA93jX/s400/2-25-10-supercharge.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442320641097509666" /></a>Was your last e-mail campaign a boon or a bust? The industry average for e-mail click- through is around 3%. Some e-blasts do better, some worst. Here are five ways to insure your campaign is firing on all cylinders:<br /><br /><b>1. Tantalize.</b> The best way to get some attention is to tempt the reader to read further. Without spelling out the whole offer, let the reader know that there is something worthwhile at the end of that click through trial.<br /><br /><b>2. A clear subject line.</b> The subject line is where you will hook the reader. Make it a good one. Remember, it’s more about being clear than being cute.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><b>3. Sell the sizzle.</b> Lame copy is the quickest way to lose your prospect. Don’t sell the steak, sell the sizzle.<br /><br /><b>4. Added value.</b> People see enough ads in a day. They are not going to go to the effort to open an e-mail that is clearly nothing but another ad. You need to give them something for their trouble. A discount. An insight. Something.<br /><br /><b>5. Set limits.</b> A limited time offer gets more clicks than an open-ended one.<br /><br />A strong e-mail campaign with the right offer can get anywhere from 7% to 14% click- through. Why settle for less?Artie Megibbenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04201871873216668819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-36182808673960071432010-02-18T09:58:00.006-06:002010-02-18T12:44:42.795-06:00Can your website be saved?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtsjqE8m6rhPsFw9CtcDg83VyP39vqD9wglVidYe0NlHCFkBjJzmF7OjIds4UoiTPddVAq_2l9EGfOMX1jg7_rqsqR_wxIbNQyqQrNmgBEeBAwEAoYEZJ2WxD_gI8fX4cHD_WK3mYxAWA/s1600-h/2-18-10-website.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439615081550849394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUtsjqE8m6rhPsFw9CtcDg83VyP39vqD9wglVidYe0NlHCFkBjJzmF7OjIds4UoiTPddVAq_2l9EGfOMX1jg7_rqsqR_wxIbNQyqQrNmgBEeBAwEAoYEZJ2WxD_gI8fX4cHD_WK3mYxAWA/s400/2-18-10-website.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 190px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 260px;" /></a>There are several blind spots in website design. There are several mistakes that are routinely made web architecture. The reasons they are made are many. Honest oversights. Budget limitations. Template-based websites. And so on.<br /><br />But, thankfully, every one of these blunders can be corrected on the backend of the process. All it takes is a lot of time, money, delays and profuse apologies. Or you can catch them on the front end and look like a hero.<br /><br />Here are a few mistakes we frequently see:<a name='more'></a><br /><br /><b>Lousy navigation</b><br />Sometimes the old ways are the best ways. Never let cool and different ease out intuitive and user-friendly in web design. There is a reason that Detroit keeps putting the steering wheel on the left side of the dash each and every year. It just makes life easier.<br /><br /><b>No search function</b><br />The cool thing about the Worldwide Web is that it is like this big, giant archive. So take advantage of that on your site. Make sure a search field is on every single webpage. Don’t have it? No worries. You can add a search function to an existing site without having to write a lot of complex code or needing to learn Jedi mind tricks. Check out <a href="http://www.google.com/cse/">Google Custom Search</a>. That quick, that easy.<br /><br /><b>Bad content organization</b><br />Web content should be bite-size and keyword rich. Never plop down a huge block of text onto a page. Use headlines and sub heads to break it up and make it user-friendly. Plus, remember the story of the camel. Commitees are famously lousy organizers. Your site map should make good logical sense. Don’t let it degenerate in to a group think land grab. Most importantly, remember, SEO. Optimize your content for the searchbots. One day, they will become our Overlords.<br /><br /><b>Poor legibility</b><br />Not everybody has the eyesight of a twenty-three-year-old web developer. Pick clean, readability fonts. Provide tons of white space and lots of photos for eye-relief.<br /><br /><b>Poor interface design</b><br />Pages on your website should be consistent without feeling monotonous. But be careful. Too much variation in your pages can start to create navigation confusion and a lack of brand consistency. As a rule, never change color schemes from page to page. Let every page embrace the brand color palette.<br /><br /><b>PC incompatibility</b><br />Web designers typically create their website designs on a Mac. Consequently, their creations often look great on a Mac and like roadkill on a PC. Test drive your font choice, color palette, etc. before you committing to a look.<br /><br /><b>Big screen bias</b><br />These days, the best sites are being designed to work as well on an iPhone® as they do on a Dell® laptop. The reason is obvious. Some folks are starting to surf the web on their mobile devices nearly as often as on their desktop computers. Consequently, you should consider how well your site is going to perform on the small screen as it how it looks on the big ones.<br /><br />So now you have a heads up. The more of these things you consider on the front end of your site development, the better the result on the backend.Artie Megibbenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04201871873216668819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-25573017456854149872010-02-09T13:49:00.010-06:002010-02-09T14:15:29.248-06:00The thing about Bing.<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436334608084055138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhD7ygpLOt1jskOuFCzUGopWqNUcs2GX513n0yiOMlhUugSZboW3VriRuKQI69toRPFDYUTvcSzjZnyrqjYFCVybR4QIZj39cWFZsRhnXXm-NidL3m-OhjVUToy-tRSo4fXGHuIiVrWsi/s400/2-9-10-bing.jpg" style="float: right; height: 190px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 260px;" />Bing, Microsoft’s bold foray into the world of search engine marketing, doesn’t exactly have Google on the ropes, but it may have them on the run. Consider this. Microsoft is planning on investing 5-10% of their operating income in search marketing over the next few years. Now, 5-10% may not sound like much, but remember we are talking Microsoft dollars. So we’re talking upwards of $11 billion. Not exactly chump change. Plus, for a Microsoft product, Bing is not half bad. It is colorful, easy to navigate and, well, something kind of different. And different is good in the fast-moving world of the Internet.Which is why, if properly done, Bing could stir up the world of search to the benefit of users and marketers alike. Of course, if you’re Google, you don’t welcome a cash-rich company like Microsoft poking around in your kingdom. <a name='more'></a>So I wouldn’t be writing the obit for Google just yet. They are very likely to up their game, build on their deep loyalty base and leave Bing in the dust. It’s like my granddaddy used to say, you don’t want to wake a sleeping dog with a sharp stick. After all, sleeping dogs have something sharper than a stick. They have teeth.Artie Megibbenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04201871873216668819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-57097268375089143552010-02-05T09:25:00.012-06:002010-02-09T14:17:58.925-06:00Hey Apple, it’s time to embrace Social Media<div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSiaXviFx7zYpNkZiI8Ug_B06Jbrznbf4J-kNTVqr8xOPjlJ47Ch3jCLoPTtesAuucFIgLRNILoCsp15DGE_CARmkRuUasgS76cZFBRkpc3ljWYrOfHxJAu0MFneFnCLSFSD35KA8-dA/s320/2-2-10-AppleIpad.jpg" /></div>As innovative of a company Apple is, it is surprising to think they have not embraced Social Media. Heck, even Bill Gates has a Twitter account now (@billgates). After just 2 weeks, Mr. Gates has more than 415,000 followers and the list is growing every day.<br />
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It is worth noting that within the past week Apple launched a YouTube channel where Apple has published five high-def videos about the new iPad. This move into Social Media makes sense considering a few years ago Apple’s only competitor was Microsoft. These days they also have to worry about Google, Nokia, Adobe and now the Amazon Kindle.<br />
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The more Apple pushes new products, the more competition they are going to have. It took time for the fans of Apple to build a base for their computers. With a little research, anyone can find out that if you bash Apple computers online; there will be fans ready to defend the brand. In iPad’s new waters, though, it is risky to assume the fans of other brands will easily jump ship and join Apple.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a name='more'></a><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In 2010, it has been predicted by many experts that Social Media Marketing will take off. More and more companies are integrating Social Media into their businesses. For Apple, that means this mix of competitors will be, if not already, joining the Social Media race. If Apple does not start as well, they may lose some serious ground.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the past, Apple has been very non-transparent and very controlling of their messaging. The only way anyone finds out about products is through rumors and at shows they host. Even their videos on YouTube have comments disabled. That is a shame because they could get a feeling for how people are perceiving the new iPad from those comments.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">At the same time, the fact that they have created a YouTube account and published these videos shows they are fully aware of the power of Social Media. All five of the YouTube videos have embedding enabled. That means every time a person wants to blog about the new product, they can easily copy the code from YouTube and embed one or all of the videos within their blog. Now their fans are not only standing up for their brand, they are provided with a way to easily spread the word about new products.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So what MAY happen over the next few months? Steve Jobs on Twitter? Employee-published YouTube videos? An official Apple Fan Page? It will be interesting to see how Apple will take on Social Media, or if they will keep on ignoring it. I predict we’re going to be seeing more of Apple on our social networks. Once that happens, I predict bigger gains from Apple and even better products.</div>Gregg Guzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12914397931463762965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-79259274901820198612010-02-03T12:18:00.001-06:002010-02-09T14:01:15.032-06:00The death of the 30-second TV spot<img alt="" border="0" height="190" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397045950913571122" src="http://www.agencycreative.com/images/blog/2-3-10-tv.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 170px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 260px;" width="260" />Shakespeare said that a coward dies a thousand deaths. Well, the 30-second television commercial has died nearly as many. The 30-second spot eased the 60 off the stage in the 1960s. When the 15-second unit came on the scene in the 1980s, people prognosticated that the 30-second spot has not long for this world. With the advent of TiVo, again, forecasters began to write its obituary afresh.<br />
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"The ad industry is changing," said Jeff Binder, Senior Director for Connected Home Solutions with Motorola. "The 30-second mass spot is probably 10 years from being extinct."<br />
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Joseph Jaffe, in his book <em>Life After the 30-second Spot, </em>argues that brands would be wiser to redirect their advertising dollars into video games and elaborate word-of-mouth schemes.<br />
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But the more the TV commercial dies, the more that it seems to be reincarnated in a slightly different form. When we fast forward it on our DVRs, it rears its ugly head at the beginning of our online news stories and Hulu® re-broadcasts. It takes over the home page of our favorite website promoting some new movie, begging us to click it and put it out of its misery. It rings up our mobile devices and pesters us some more. It fills the widescreens of our cinemas and sporting events. The more stakes that advertising prognosticators pound into its heart, the more the 30-second television spot keeps coming back with Dracula-like regularity.<br />
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Let’s face it, there will always be a place for the TV spot. It’s not that the Web is killing off TV; it’s that the lines between computers, TVs, iPods and cell phones are blurring. That is why brand managers and CMOs need to be partnering with brand agencies that understand the power of an idea. Great advertising has never been about tactics. It has always been about powerful, integrated ideas. The 30-second spot has never been more than a vehicle for the idea. Just like the billboard, the e-blast, the Twitter alert, you name it. It is the idea that has the power.<br />
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So let’s not be too fast to cart the old boy off to the mortuary. Besides, if the world didn’t have TV commercials, when would we ever get a chance to go to the bathroom?Artie Megibbenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04201871873216668819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-28196142974754205562010-01-26T10:05:00.005-06:002010-02-09T14:01:28.419-06:00Guerilla Marketing Meets Social Media<img alt="" border="0" height="190" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397045950913571122" src="http://www.agencycreative.com/images/blog/01-26-10-coke.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 170px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 260px;" width="260" />Recently, Coca-Cola® pulled what would have once been known as a “stunt.” These days, it is nothing short of marketing genius: The Happiness Machine. Click over to YouTube to watch the <u><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqT_dPApj9U" target="_blank">video</a></u> <br />
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The event happened on the campus of St. Johns University in Queens, New York. A Coke machine appeared to be on the fritz in the student union and instead of stealing your money, this machine was defective in your favor. A student would put in their money and an ice-cold Coke would plunk down. Then another unexpected plunk. Followed by another. And another. And another. The bewildered and amused student would then begin passing out Cokes to other passers-by. Giant grins would appear on everybody’s faces. And all of this is captured on film.<br />
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But that is not the end of it. This fun, guerilla event is then posted on YouTube and then it goes viral. Somebody tweets me about it. I write a blog on the event. I e-mail the link to a few friends. And pretty soon, just like the generous Coke machine, the marketing message just keeps on flowing and flowing. No stopping it.<br />
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Integrating Social Media into your marketing mix is essential these days. But it is not just something you tack on. It is something you strategize and maximize. It is something you get creative about and you leverage. And it doesn’t take a giant brand like Coca-Cola® to do this. Social Media is the great leveler. Every brand has access to it. The question is what are you doing about it? Get your company thinking about ways to turn to Social Media. It could turn Social Media Marketing into a happiness machine of your very own.<br />
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<object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lqT_dPApj9U&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lqT_dPApj9U&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Artie Megibbenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04201871873216668819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-73090202290647161532010-01-21T10:29:00.004-06:002010-02-09T14:01:53.999-06:00The theory of logo evolution<img alt="" border="0" height="190" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397045950913571122" src="http://www.agencycreative.com/images/blog/01-20-10-logoev1.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 170px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 260px;" width="260" />Being in the branding business, you get a lot of opportunities to launch new brands and revamp others. Probably, the most ticklish of these branding assignments is the brand re-design. This is usually a high-wire tightrope journey between a new marketing director who wants to radically update their brand and a quiet hunch that there may remain truckloads of equity in the brand’s current logo design.<br />
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When faced with this power struggle between the hunger for being different and the wisdom of staying the same, it is imperative to not throw the baby out with the bathwater. It is helpful in these situations to look at how some of the big brands have struck this important balance over the past century.<br />
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Shell Oil has a name that is so iconic that its earliest logo was the proverbial no-brainer. And as we chart the mark’s evolution we can see in many ways how the brand has moved full circle without ever straying off the path. The one thing that was added in the 1940’s was a distinct color palette from which Shell has wisely not departed.<br />
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Pepsi has had a far more checkered odyssey. For the first 50 years, they dabbled in an ornate script that spelled out the entire name. Then in the 1960’s, they shortened their moniker to put the brand on a first-name basis with their customers. Somewhere along the way, the all-red palette was probably determined to be too close to Coca-Cola. Interestingly, the Coca-Cola brand still uses their original script logo in their packaging and marketing. Hasn’t exactly held them back.<br />
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Rebranding is tricky business. If the brand is held in high esteem, be careful to hold on to all positive equity. Of course, some brands are in the process of running for the door. Here, a radical makeover is in order. After gunning down a few dozen innocent bystanders, trigger-happy security company Blackwater USA recently decided they needed more than a new logo. They needed a name change. Today, Blackwater operates under a far less controversial name–– Xe Services.Artie Megibbenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04201871873216668819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-38053311847287832972010-01-13T13:55:00.005-06:002010-02-09T14:02:14.732-06:00What is Google Real-Time Search? Why is it Important for Brands?<img alt="" border="0" height="190" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390246364959414498" src="http://www.agencycreative.com/images/blog/01-13-10-rts.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 190px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 260px;" width="260" /> <br />
Google Real-Time search uses the publishing technologies of platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo Answers and blogging to populate Google’s search results.<br />
<hr /><strong>Does this mean my Facebook status updates and latest Tweets could end up the first page of search results within Google?</strong><br />
<hr />The answer is yes. Hot or trending topics seem to trigger this effect automatically. Right now if you tweet about Tiger Woods there is a chance your twitter post could be streamed on the front page of Google’s real-time search results for “Tiger Woods.”<br />
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At the same time, we have noticed that only popular or trending topics seem to stream automatically on the first page of Google’s search results. A search for “Agency Creative” did not bring up any streaming tweets or status updates, but when we filtered all results to “latest” we found a blog post of ours that had only been published for 23 minutes.<br />
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<hr /><strong>Why does Google want people to know what I am blogging about?</strong><br />
<hr />Google is not the only company interested in the average person’s opinions. CNN has been using iReporters for some time now. CNN’s iReporters are every-day people who write and submit stories to CNN.com. CNN then reads through the stories and features stories they feel are relevant on their Web sit.. <br />
Brands also care what the average person’s opinion is when it relates to their industry. There are countless brands that have been using social media to see what consumers are saying about them. Google is making it easier for these brands by aggregating social media search results onto one page. <br />
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<hr /><strong>What does this mean for brands?</strong><br />
<hr />People have been having conversations within social media about brands for years. Google has now made these conversations transparent and readily available to any person who uses the right keyword or phrase within Google’s search.<br />
As a brand, it is very important to address consumers who talk about your company within social media. If done right, your brand’s participation in social media will have a positive result when compared to your brand’s silence in social media.<br />
Interested to see what people are saying about your brand? Go to Google's home page right now and do a search. If your brand is not a trending topic on the first page of search resluts, click "show options" and then "latest."<br />
Confused? Watch this video to see it in action.<br />
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<object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WRkYmx4A9Do&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WRkYmx4A9Do&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Gregg Guzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12914397931463762965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-33190676605400998412009-12-29T09:18:00.001-06:002010-02-09T14:02:35.868-06:00Above the fold: a rule to be broken<img alt="" border="0" height="190" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397045950913571122" src="http://www.agencycreative.com/images/blog/12-29-09-fold.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 170px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 260px;" width="260" />Since the earliest days of the newspaper industry, the front page of the paper was laid out to get the top stories <em>above the fold</em>. Inside the paper, was a similar situation. Savvy ad execs like Don Draper knew that if a quarter page ad fell in the middle of that crease, readership would plummet. The fold could make you or break you. These days, this line of thinking has carried over into the Internet. There remains an abiding notion that an optimum website design lives above the fold (the depth of your browser window.) But even this is starting to change.<br />
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A six-year study has called this “rule” into question. 800 people observed in clinical settings showed that the scroll bar is very much a part of how they peruse a site. Only 3 people in the study failed to scroll deeper than the browser window’s depth. The online “fold,” it would appear, is not some impenetrable barrier. What does that mean for how we design future websites? It means a lot.<br />
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<strong>Less is more</strong><br />
Interestingly, the study indicates that the less you have above the fold, the more likely someone is to scroll down your page. And consider this, a cluttered home page that tries to squeeze everything into the real estate above the fold may be making your site less inviting. So think outside the box. Spread out. Let your site breathe.<br />
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<strong>The advent of Smart phones</strong><br />
With the arrival of the iPhone, Web design has radically started to evolve. Because of this phenomenon, sites are beginning to use less Flash and more Java script. Also, fonts are growing bigger, bolder and cleaner. People with smart phones are all about scrolling. No fold exists.<br />
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<strong>Less clicking. More sticking.</strong><br />
Web architects today are designing sites to require less drilling down and more scrolling down. The fewer clicks that are required to access information, the better. <br />
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<strong>Balance</strong><br />
All of this, of course, needs to be taken with the proverbial grain of salt. After all, even the old newspaper men printed some of their news stories beneath the fold. They just wanted to make sure the top headlines were visible when the papers got stuffed into the news stands. A website design is no different. No matter how deep the page goes, you want to populate the top of the page with your lead items. Your secondary items can go below the fold. Prioritize.<br />
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<strong>Visuals are important</strong><br />
As you design deeper Web pages, avoid the temptation to stick all of the visuals up top. Populate the area below the fold with something other than gray matter. The more visuals there are, the more people read the content. It’s a fact.<br />
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Take your next site to the next level. Don Draper would be proud of you.Artie Megibbenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04201871873216668819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-31107713803123833902009-12-21T16:14:00.006-06:002009-12-22T11:50:49.133-06:00Why Businesses Should Consider Using a Content Management System in 2010<a href="http://www.equest.org/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="190" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390246364959414498" src="http://www.agencycreative.com/images/blog/12-21-09-equest01.gif" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 190px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 260px;" width="260" /></a>
A Content Management System (CMS) is used for creating and managing the content on a website. A CMS offers people who know little about HTML with a set of tools that makes editing a website as easy as editing a Microsoft Word document.<br />
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Agency Creative designed and developed a website for <a href="http://www.equest.org/">Equest</a> that featured a Content Management System. We will use their site as an example to show you why a CMS website was beneficial for Equest and why it can also be beneficial for your business.
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<strong>A Content Management System website would allow for you to have less dependence on your developer when it comes to quick edits.
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<strong> </strong>With time, comes change. Websites should not ignore this rule. With a CMS website, businesses have the power to constantly tweak their website’s content to reflect trends that are always changing. <br />
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Let’s examine a brief scenario involving the Equest “About Us” page.<br />
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<a href="http://www.agencycreative.com/images/blog/12-21-09-equest03.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.agencycreative.com/images/blog/12-21-09-equest02.jpg" /></a><br />
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Lets say Equest notices numerous comments on their Facebook fan page about one of their newer services. Naturally, Equest decides it would benefit users if they mentioned this service on their "About Us" page. All they’d need to do is <br />
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<li>Log in to their CMS with their chosen username and password</li>
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<li>Find the page (under articles for the CMS system) </li>
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<li>Add the new content using the built-in WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor.</li>
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<li>Click Save</li>
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After those four steps, their “About Us” page would be updated.<br />
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Here is the system at a closer look.<br />
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<a href="http://www.agencycreative.com/images/blog/12-21-09-equest05.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.agencycreative.com/images/blog/12-21-09-equest04.jpg" /></a><br />
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On the left side of the page is the WYSIWYG editor. Here users can change the content, upload photos, create links and much more. On the right, there are options to change the Meta description and keywords for search engine optimization purposes. <br />
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<strong>Conclusion</strong>
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We wanted to give Equest a well-branded site that gave them the ability to make quick edits. The CMS solution was perfect for them. In fact, it is perfect for any business that needs complete control over the speed and implementation of website content editing.<br />
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If your industry demands websites with up-to-minute information or you are constantly going to your developer to make edits to your website, a Content Management System is an efficient solution.<br />
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If you are interested in learning more about a CMS website for your business, you should contact us at <a href="mailto:%20info@agencycreative.com">info@agencycreative.com</a> or call us at 972-488-1660. You can also look over two more CMS websites we developed for another client below.<br />
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<a href="http://www.financialfreedomofamerica.com/" target="_blank">http://www.financialfreedomofamerica.com/ </a><br />
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<a href="http://www.firstfinancialfreedommortgage.com/" target="_blank">http://www.firstfinancialfreedommortgage.com/</a><br />Gregg Guzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12914397931463762965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-1856688458656678722009-12-10T06:58:00.002-06:002009-12-10T11:51:49.959-06:00dPi re-energizes its brand<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-UTNaK72QQI6WeFK5nHXH1x8GDGmS2uFrlHZlDqDNwkppbszSQEN3k53_hXue1ygZ86eYetO9xm1m2t2dGzL88jaaC0w1hztiEM4xzavS2wS6C_Y8y0FZ-h4-20pkTonK2ICsJ_dOoCd5/s400/12-10-09-dPi.jpg" alt="" width="260" height="170" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397045950913571122" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 170px;" />dPi has just named Agency Creative as agency of record. Based in Dallas, dPi is a leading provider of energy and home phone services to the growing pre-paid market. No contracts, no deposit, no I.D. are required to switch on your electricity or home phone. Just pay up front. It’s that easy. But reaching this “pay as you go” market is no easy task. They are a very diverse and mobile group. Consequently, it’s our job to break through language barriers, culture barriers and connect with the dPi customer. We do everything from TV to social media marketing. And it all has to be done in multiple languages for multiple audiences, not to mention multiple channel partners. Everything has to build the brand, as well as build demand. And, at the end of the day, we do it. We do it well. And we do it at a breakneck speed. After all, this is retail.Artie Megibbenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04201871873216668819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-42863149499056030432009-12-08T09:50:00.004-06:002009-12-09T19:00:57.687-06:00Holiday Cyber Shopping<p><img src="http://www.agencycreative.com/images/blog/12-08-09-CyberMonday.jpg" alt="" width="260" height="190" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397045950913571122" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 190px;" />Black Friday’s results were an encouragement to American retailers. Sales grew a whopping .05%. Okay, strike “whopping.” Still, considering the poor state of the economy, not too shabby. But the real news is what happened online. There, sales were up 11%. That’s a hefty $595 million. Pretty “whopping.” <br /><br />Rather than queuing up in your long johns in some frosty parking lot waiting for Walmart’s doors to open, the smart customers pointed and clicked through their Christmas lists. They filled up their cyber shopping carts and checked out without standing in a single line. Plus, they did this all in the toasty comfort of their own homes. <br /><br />Forecasters believe that Black Friday is just the tip of the iceberg. Trends indicate that online shopping begins to go through the roof on the Monday following Thanksgiving weekend. These emerging trends in holiday shopping reveal how consumers are deepening their love affair with the Internet. Now is the time for marketers to put their brand where the customers are lining up: the Web. You don’t have to have an e-commerce site to see results. Look at social media. A recent survey indicates that Facebook, Twitter and customer reviews are some of the most effective tactics for mobilizing consumers to talk up products (Etailing survey of 117 companies, September 2009). Leveraging social media can improve your organic rankings on search engines, populate the Internet with positive product reviews and even raise the click-through rates of your online banner ads.<br /><br />Today, having a marketing plan that wisely utilizes the Web is essential in both building your brand and building demand. Marketers who embrace this trend will reap the dividends. Those who don’t will be, like that midnight line in the Walmart parking lot, left out in the cold.</p>Artie Megibbenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04201871873216668819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-84418187399496281252009-11-23T12:49:00.007-06:002009-11-23T13:08:57.768-06:00Making that sensory emotional connection.<a href="http://www.agencycreative.com/" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="190" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390246364959414498" src="http://www.agencycreative.com/images/blog/112309Emotions-Pete.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 190px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 260px;" width="260" /></a>A couple months ago, on a warm Saturday evening, I was sitting on the patio at Stan’s Blue Note in Dallas with some friends. While I was somewhat paying attention to the conversation, as I was updating my Facebook status, I heard a familiar song come over the bar stereo. “Like a rock, I was strong as I could be…” If you’re like me, and not familiar with the man behind the music (Bob Seger, I looked him up on Google), you might have another way of connecting with this song…through those long-running Chevrolet truck commercials.<br />
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One thing a lot of great brands have in common is their ability to connect emotionally with consumers via the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. In the case of my encounter with Mr. Seger, sound is all I needed to remind me that Chevy trucks are built like a rock and can withstand extensive mileage, weather and wear and tear for many years. This is great example of a brand that drove home a strong selling point with a catchy classic that mirrored its most important product attribute.<br />
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And when fighting a consumer’s mind for recall and recognition, especially these days with so much traditional and digital clutter, you have to tap into a consumer’s senses and connect with them on a personal level. Whether you do it through an exciting TV spot, a catchy radio tune or a compelling logo that shapes your brand around a their brain, your consumer will remember you.
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One of the more common, widely exposed senses is sight. And a good example of brand consistently triggering your eyeballs is McDonalds. You’ll find nothing new here that’ll tell you why McDonalds is number one in the fast food category. And why they’ll most likely stay number one for a while. When you’re driving in your car and you see the Golden Arches in sight, a quarter mile down the road amongst a handful of other fast food joints, odds are your mind will gravitate towards this iconic sign. That’s because you probably don’t need to see the name of the restaurant to know that McDonalds will satisfy your craving for short-term, inexpensive happiness. At least you know what makes me happy.<br />
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While the two aforementioned senses ruled consumer advertising for nearly a century and a half, according to world renowned branding guru Martin Lindstrom, author of “Brand Sense – Build Powerful Brands through Touch, Taste, Smell, Sight, and Sound” (2005), the other untapped senses must be tapped in order to make an effective sensory connection.<br />
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Starbucks is a great example of a brand that tied smell with its most obvious product: coffee. It wasn’t until 2008 when Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz reinstated the idea of freshly ground coffee beans at Starbucks locations. The thought was to bring back that rich, coffee aroma to trigger that powerful emotion in Starbucks customers. One whiff of this successful smell would leave a mental note in customers’ minds as to where they needed to pick up their next cup of Joe.<br />
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At Agency Creative, we really get to know our clients’ brands and help them make that emotional connection with their consumers. We dig deep to understand what makes their brand unique and special, and discover how we can expose their greatest qualities.<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-83519217733052522192009-11-09T09:32:00.011-06:002009-11-09T10:25:56.684-06:00Will Google Wave be the final death nail of e-mail?<a href="http://wave.google.com/help/wave/closed.html" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="190" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390246364959414498" src="http://www.agencycreative.com/images/blog/102109GoogleWave-Gregg.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 190px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 260px;" width="260" /></a>Since May of this year, Google Wave has been highly anticipated by the Internet community. It’s Google’s newest project that they are slowly releasing to the public. On September 30th, the beta version of Google Wave was launched and access was given to a select few 100,000 people for testing.<br />
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It has been referred to as a game-changer for communication and even the death of e-mail. So how is Google Wave going to back these statements up? With key features that make Google Wave much cleaner, more efficient and just more fun than e-mail. Let’s take a look below.
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<strong>How is it different from e-mail?</strong>
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Google Waves are messages between two or more people online. Google claims that the idea of e-mail came more than 40 years ago. So, with the help of the two brothers who invented Google Maps, the Google team sat down and recreated an online messaging tool that is more efficient and also comes with all the bells and whistles of Web 2.0.
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<strong>Features</strong>
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<strong>1. Real-Time Updates. </strong>Updates to Waves will be real-time. Real-time means the days of clicking “send” after you type your message are over. With Google Wave your text will simply appear to all recipients as you type it. So if you and your co-worker have a Wave open at the same time, his or her words appear as they type them. After your co-worker is done typing, there will be no need to click a send button because the message will already be visible to you. (For those of you concerned about your case of chronic impulse typing, real-time updates can be disabled.)<br />
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<strong>2. Web site and Blog Embedding.</strong> Your wave can also function as a dynamic part of your blog or Web site. If you choose, you can embed your Wave onto your blog or Web site so you or all of the people included in the Wave can update your blog or Web site in real-time with ease.<br />
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<strong>3. Wiki Functionality.</strong> You may not know this, but before it became today’s go-to encyclopedia, Wikis were primarily used internally among employees of companies for editing documents. Google Wave is bringing this technology into homes and offices with easy accessibility. Imagine being able to have four co-workers attached to a Wave with the ability to all read a document and make changes as necessary without having to print it out and send it through the office.<br />
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<em>Random Fact: Before Facebook went international they used a Wiki-type service to have the social network translated in numerous languages. They put out a request to bilingual users of the English site and asked them to comb through the content and translate it into whatever language they knew other than English. The plan worked and they had their site translated cost-free by users of Facebook.<br />
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</em><strong>4. Gadgets within Google Waves. </strong>Much like blogs and Web sites today, you will be able to have gadgets functioning within your Wave. One of the gadgets that has been shown off is a translation tool. It works like this: you are talking to someone from Russia and neither one of you are fluent in the other’s native tongue. As you both start the Wave with each other you also enable the translation gadget. As you type to your recipient the gadget takes the message in real-time and translates it for you. This in turn creates a seamless conversation between two people who do not speak the same language.<br />
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<strong>5. Message rewind.</strong> If you are invited to a Wave a week after it was started you will probably have a few questions as far as what chronological order messages were typed. This will not be much of a problem. First off, these messages will probably look something like your Facebook wall today. Someone posts a message, and someone else can leave a comment under that message. If that is not enough for you, you can rewind the message back to the beginning so you can watch what order each addition was added.<br />
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<strong>How can you get a Google Wave account? </strong>
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Right now the only way you can get an account is if someone you know has one already and they nominate you to be an early user. If you do not know anyone with an account, then you have to wait for the full release, which is unknown at this time.<br />
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<strong>Learn more about Google Wave
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<strong><br />
Short illustration video that briefly describes Google Wave. (2:15)<br />
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Google’s short video on Google Wave (7:52)<br />
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Google’s long video on Google Wave (1:20:11)<br />
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</div>Gregg Guzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12914397931463762965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-71020530847528402872009-11-05T14:08:00.005-06:002009-11-05T14:20:58.186-06:007 Ways to Build Your Brand using Twitter<a href="http://www.twitter.com/agencycreative" target="_blank" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://www.agencycreative.com/images/blog/10-05-09_twitter.jpg" alt="" width="260" height="190" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397045950913571122" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 190px;" /></a>Let’s get one thing straight. Twitter is not some trendy, high-tech way for teenage girls to pass notes during biology class. It is a foundational marketing tool that can seriously improve your organic ranking on search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo. If your brand isn’t taking advantage of Twitter, be forewarned, you will soon be left behind. Here are the basics of making Twitter work for your business:<br /><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">1. Choose a strong Username.</span></strong><br />Choose a one word Twitter username that is relevant to your company and is easy to remember. Your user name becomes part of your Twitter URL, e.g. <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Jackbox" target="_blank">http://www.twitter.com/Jackbox</a>. This creates a static URL for future search indexing.<br /><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">2. Pick a good Account Name.</span></strong><br />Your account name is what appears in your profile, next to your icon/image. This can be different than your Twitter username. Jack in the Box uses simply Jack Box for their account name. You will want to choose an account name that promotes your company or brand.<br /><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">3. Promote it like a wild man.</span></strong><br />Once your account is set up, start building your list of followers. A good way to do this is to prominently display your Twitter URL on your Web site and Facebook page. Along with the Twitter icon, have a blurb encouraging users to “follow” your brand on Twitter.<br /><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">4. 26 characters. One plot.</span></strong><br />The first 26 characters of each tweet are important for SEO. They determine what appears in the tweet title tag and hence what shows up as a search result on most search engines.<br /><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">5. Keywords are key.</span></strong><br />Wherever possible, start your tweet with a keyword phrase to theme the message, e.g. Energy Saving tip of the day.<br /><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">6. Make it easy to re-tweet.</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span><br />By limiting the number of characters in your tweets to about 120, your followers can easily add RT @YourUserName in front of the tweet and pass it on.<br /><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">7. Link, link, link.</span></strong><br />Whenever possible, insert links in your tweets to direct users to content on your website. Twitter is a significant traffic driver for blogs and websites. To keep the character count down, use a URL shortener like Is.gd or Bit.ly. In some cases, Twitter automatically shortens your URLs using bit.ly.<br /><br />You can View Agency Creative's Twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/agencycreative" target="_blank"> twitter.com/AgencyCreative<br /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>Related Article:</div><div><a href="http://agencycreative.blogspot.com/2009/10/is-social-media-marketing-right-for-my.html">Is Social Media Marketing Right For My Business</a></div>Artie Megibbenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04201871873216668819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-22460808185426657752009-10-27T07:30:00.000-05:002009-10-27T07:30:00.748-05:00Agency Creative helps Tyler Technologies, Inc. unveil integrated branding initiative<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJT3Kf5PnoE4ojYdoCIk2qxY6Lfit09DymKBIiQO6DitX0Lpa1fqy-00B1tIyDrIMVSq9oONmB1naOFkG1eA8PzR0iBasLUfXqVnwRo2HZXmVAWoyIsDRfkqLSLdBPimgS2-_zhDZaxPM/s1600-h/tyler-brand-launch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJT3Kf5PnoE4ojYdoCIk2qxY6Lfit09DymKBIiQO6DitX0Lpa1fqy-00B1tIyDrIMVSq9oONmB1naOFkG1eA8PzR0iBasLUfXqVnwRo2HZXmVAWoyIsDRfkqLSLdBPimgS2-_zhDZaxPM/s400/tyler-brand-launch.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Tyler Technologies came to us with a problem. They are the nation’s leading software provider exclusively serving the public sector, but name and brand awareness for Tyler was low. Tyler had grown through a series of strategic acquisitions, but customers were more familiar with the product names than the name of the parent company. That’s when Agency Creative was called to action. We conducted quantitative research with Tyler’s customers and prospects. We flew around the country and sat down with the key players of Tyler’s various divisions. Then, in a few months time, our partnership resulted in a new mark, full-blown brand architecture and integrated campaign that has help put Tyler out in front, without overshadowing the equity of their acquired entities. The new brand was initially previewed last month in Denver at the 2009 Courts Technology Conference with a 40’x40’ exhibit featuring multiple creative elements developed by Agency Creative. In addition to eye-catching booth graphics, the display featured the company’s new positioning line “Empowering people who serve the public” and a three-minute video developed by the agency. “Agency Creative has provided tremendous counsel, creative strength, insights and patience throughout this process,” said Tyler’s Vice President of Marketing Samantha Crosby. “Their partnership and focus on Tyler as a valued client were essential to the success of our new brand.”Mark Wyatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15309102904443736685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-82555500174957580472009-10-08T09:28:00.008-05:002009-11-03T08:55:20.168-06:00Is Social Media Marketing Right For My Business?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.google.com/trends?q=social+media+marketing" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qdcaZGamyfIRYy3N5LsU_culZl1O4L33XkBup915iKFjEl8UrGv6OTICFIfCq-3LcI7-eHopx2L60O4gSrcDiqHdfC5z7Ajx47k0voMdXh4qtBoFkuDlUH8JquxfvFV35Pz3oVStFyY/s400/100609Gregg.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390246364959414498" /></a>When radio stations first went on the air, people were introduced to a new media for their entertainment, such as movies, magazines, television and the Internet. It did not take long for companies to realize the potential of what is now called “traditional media marketing” to generate brand exposure. For at least half of the past decade, people have been using social networking sites and reading blogs for entertainment. Recently, companies started realizing the unique potential of advertising in social media. In fact, not too long ago, “social media marketing” became a coined phrase according to Google Trends. In 2009, the phrase’s popularity has already grown 4 times faster than it did all of last year. There is something different about social media marketing though; communicating through social media is extremely cost-efficient and the process involves far fewer steps than other forms of advertising. Both a commercial on television and a blog written by your company have the potential to reach audiences globally at the same time.<br /><br />At the speed that social media marketing is becoming a social norm for companies, in the near future, it will be common for most companies to be involved in some sort of social media. Today, if a company is operating without an e-mail address or a Web site, they seem out of touch. Soon we can expect the same for companies who choose not to participate in social media.<br /><br />There are many pros and cons to social media. The following is a list of pros and cons to help your company determine if social media is right for you.<br /><br />The pros<br /><ul><li>Social media marketing helps improve the relevancy and organic search engine results of your company’s brand.<br /></li><li>Your company can reach target audiences that traditional marketing cannot.<br /></li><li>Social media marketing has become one of the simplest ways to humanize your company, while at the same time generating brand loyalty.<br /></li><li>Creates customer interaction, making it easier to tailor your products and services to your customers by listening to their needs and concerns.<br /></li><li>Offers another way to learn more about your target audience and gain new target audience prospects.<br /></li><li>Social media marketing is extremely cost-efficient (even when outsourced to a marketing agency) when compared to traditional media marketing.<br /></li><li>Adds transparency to your company, offering consumers an open perspective of your business (very important to Generation Y which is being called the “most transparent generation to date.” You can read more in our <a href="http://agencycreative.blogspot.com/2009/09/understand-gen-y-audience.html">Gen Y article</a>).<br /></li></ul><br />The Cons<br /><ul><li>Social Media Marketing demands commitment; once you have an audience, it is up to you to cultivate them and keep them interested.<br /></li><li>With the aspect of transparency, anything you publish is open to the public.<br /></li><li>Without the ability to repress reader’s comments you are open for potential scrutiny.<br /></li><li>ROI is delayed most of the time. Social media is viral, but it still takes time. This is something that should be thought of as a long term marketing effort when deciding if your company should engage in social media.<br /></li></ul><br />With all of that being said, simply publishing a Facebook Fan Page and posting a few random tweets about your company isn’t going to get your company the viral exposure for which you’d hope. Before beginning your social media marketing campaign, you need to formulate a plan, choose your target audience, decide what each social network will address and set your goals.<br /><br />One of your goals should be to spread knowledge about your company and your industry, the kind of knowledge that your followers will feel inclined to spread to their friends.<br /><br />For examples of social media efforts you can view Agency Creative’s social media links below:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/AgencyCreative">http://www.facebook.com/AgencyCreative</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/AgencyCreative">http://www.twitter.com/AgencyCreative</a><br /><br />Related Article:<br /><a href="http://agencycreative.blogspot.com/2009/09/understand-gen-y-audience.html">Understand the Gen Y Audience</a>Gregg Guzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12914397931463762965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-53063070213787165412009-10-06T17:50:00.007-05:002009-10-06T17:58:04.333-05:00Targeting Consumers with Content Marketing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEKtv7cjtBuwQ8-hxDVPVHEVCQLBxh7_IzdXMxjV9z0oSzfogPOH9kxdtN22r4-NVAb76-apoF3c3rI5FPm7mzdLBL5Zfaw_1diqolF4AMdRAF27sCYFy4AMdTsIhuji_bhKTKyqBKys/s1600-h/100609TargetingJen"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEKtv7cjtBuwQ8-hxDVPVHEVCQLBxh7_IzdXMxjV9z0oSzfogPOH9kxdtN22r4-NVAb76-apoF3c3rI5FPm7mzdLBL5Zfaw_1diqolF4AMdRAF27sCYFy4AMdTsIhuji_bhKTKyqBKys/s320/100609TargetingJen" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389623870861130882" /></a>In today’s busy world, Internet-savvy consumers are on the hunt for relevant content at fast speeds. Most consumers begin their online search for your products and services long before they ever know anything about your company. So how do you make your company stand out online? Content. It’s time to become a content marketing expert.<br /><br />Content marketing is the art of understanding what “content” the consumer wants or needs to know. When you impart that information to the consumer, you instantly become the consumer’s friend. You begin to form a relationship with them. You become a trusted resource that they will, in turn, pass on to their friends and colleagues.<br /><br />So you understand it is important for your business to have relevant content, now what? It’s time to develop a content marketing plan. First, make a commitment. Understand that great, high-quality content takes time, effort and expertise. Second, think about your target audience and the type of consumer you are seeking. Third, determine the wants and needs of the consumer. And fourth, put your plan into motion by creating a content marketing schedule. Set your plan for at least six months out of when and where content will be generated and posted. You may want to consider hiring a media and marketing strategist to create a strategic content marketing schedule. Sound like a plan?<br /><br />Creating a content marketing plan can be challenging, but <a href="http://www.agencycreative.com/" target="_blank">Agency Creative</a> can help you define and create a strategic content marketing plan for your company. Check back in a few weeks for my newest blog on content marketing tips.Jenifer Bileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05441628918649828753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-50978470852298278852009-10-02T09:24:00.009-05:002009-10-06T09:24:47.784-05:00Give your Web site a Face-lift<a href="http://www.fundingbyallied.com/" target="_blank"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxnEWRqKy2RkMhZWtULPWpZn234kf1yOfJcSo6XB6urfZvJtEjx7thTBSn9qqXdlrQbH5C5VYdP88C7q6dIAZY9HopHEz_JXiozTwHlxq3wNlRqiVI0683Jd6ATM1xHFjuwe2Psni2Qd1/s400/092909Artie2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389490543401482690" /></a>Sure, any Web site can benefit from a little tinkering. A total makeover might not hurt, right? But many companies could literally use a “face” lift. Recent studies in eye tracking show that people spend more time with Web sites that feature a human face. It is basic human nature. Someone walks into your office, you look them in the eye. You instantly assess their mood and respond accordingly. If the person looks ticked, you get your back up. If they are smiling, you smile back. One way or another, you immediately connect. Well, it turns out, this basic human instinct is something we carry into surfing the Web. In fact, eye-tracking studies indicate that when we look at a Web page we look right away for whatever human face is on the page. The second thing we notice? Whatever the face is turned toward. Humanity in a Web site isn’t just eye candy. It actually makes the site more effective. This is just one more way you can increase Web usability and make your site stickier.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Above is a site and branding campaign we developed for our client <a href="http://www.fundingbyallied.com/">Allied Affiliated Funding</a>.</div>Artie Megibbenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04201871873216668819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-70542836136594610062009-09-29T09:18:00.004-05:002009-09-29T09:23:33.203-05:00Marketing in the Blink of an Eye<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6THXb2xGL8EOLw0WLmwseX1xzxPjnCEFU40oztYSpH1RbXtisKzw-goitaxQ-Iwh1NXvIVS2aaI3sxvhFACh4XOfS32W63dRq9epakOebwzfxKLRk5GjfUKPojtD42BLc1E3DrbUQgdKn/s1600-h/092909Artie.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6THXb2xGL8EOLw0WLmwseX1xzxPjnCEFU40oztYSpH1RbXtisKzw-goitaxQ-Iwh1NXvIVS2aaI3sxvhFACh4XOfS32W63dRq9epakOebwzfxKLRk5GjfUKPojtD42BLc1E3DrbUQgdKn/s400/092909Artie.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386893816127687682" /></a><!--StartFragment-->It’s the two-second rule. In the first few seconds of looking at a billboard, web banner or magazine ad, most consumers have already formed an opinion. Malcolm Gladwell explores this phenomenon in his best-selling book <i>Blink</i>. He calls this the “decisive glance.” Cops do it, art dealers do it and so do you. Today, it seems, marketing is more like speed-dating than going steady. Consumers are moving at a breakneck speed. They are juggling smart phones, steering wheels and piping-hot cappuccinos. Our TV sets have remote controls and DVR. You have to be ready to grab the viewer in exactly an instant. At Agency Creative, we know how to make brands stand out. We make sure that your message is translated into a quick, powerful impression that customers can consume in a quick slurp or a full-throated gobble. It’s what we do. And we would like to do it for you. This second. Contact us at <a href="mailto:info@agencycreative.com">info@agencycreative.com</a>.<!--EndFragment-->Artie Megibbenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04201871873216668819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-43558370724850036372009-09-22T10:35:00.002-05:002009-09-22T10:53:32.053-05:00Understand the Gen Y Audience<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEL9_-7Pg0k_u4TUWRiNxTzUDjw15gggWOxqCpAwPufIQAJfXjRcFE3qo-a4k_UGsbn9huAPuAQcv8fN1MCRyd5XE3Q9QlG3e4hX9wObxVZp4npLvgnSp1YI-ppBZSZJJR3ESSGLGsi8/s1600-h/generationy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigEL9_-7Pg0k_u4TUWRiNxTzUDjw15gggWOxqCpAwPufIQAJfXjRcFE3qo-a4k_UGsbn9huAPuAQcv8fN1MCRyd5XE3Q9QlG3e4hX9wObxVZp4npLvgnSp1YI-ppBZSZJJR3ESSGLGsi8/s320/generationy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384320478146285986" border="0" /></a>There is a buzzing “Buzz Word” in the workplace; Gen Y. Companies want to know who they are, what’s so special about them, and how they market to them?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who is Gen Y?</span><br />Generation Y are also known as Millennial or Echo Boomers. Their birthdates range from late 70s to early 90s and there are over 75 million living in the US. Raised by Baby Boomers, they were brought up to believe they can do anything and be anything they want.<br /><br />Everything about Gen Y has been shaped by opportunity and destruction. Technology has given them the greatest opportunity for advancement, while every year their lives are shaped by a worldly disaster. From the Gulf War, Columbine Shooting, 9-11, Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina to Desert Storm in Afghanistan, Gen Y has been affected. Yet, they are striving to be the most optimistic and creative generation.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is so special about Gen Y?</span><br />Gen Y is the fastest growing segment in the workforce today. They have high expectations not only of themselves, but of their co-workers and boss. They are hard workers, but a generation of multi-taskers, who can be working on a project, talking on the phone, updating their Twitter, Blog and their Facebook all at the same time.<br /><br />Gen Y lives by a work-life balance, which isn’t just a trend, but their mantra. They aren’t looking for just a JOB, they are looking for JOY. It’s important to them to have joy while on the job. More than half of Gen Y workers prefer a job with volunteer opportunities, according to the Deloitte Survey. A place of work that donates, has a significant cause, or has a volunteer program is more likely to have Gen Y happiness than no Gen Y at all.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How do I market to Gen Y?</span><br />The Gen Y community has grown up learning, “Don’t trust advertisers.” Less than half get their information and news from television or radio – both traditional media forms of advertising. Most of the Gen Y community gets their information and news from one another. They text, IM, watch YouTube of each other, Twitter and they Google everything. They speak to each other about their likes and dislikes then blog about it at the end of the day.<br /><br />There are 6 major rules to consider when marketing to Gen Y.<br />1. Create a good quality product<br />2. Provide it at a good value<br />3. Have fast service<br />4. Allow them to have an “experience”<br />5. Make sure it’s hip<br />6. Most importantly, be authentic<br /><br />Authenticity is the most important rule when marketing to the Gen Y community. To earn their respect and get them talking to their friends about your product or brand, you have to be authentic. They know real when they see it.<br /><br />A couple of important things to remember when learning about Gen Y and how to market to them is: listen, hang out, experience their life on their terms and most importantly respect them. They are the most transparent generation to date and Social Networking is the key to successful marketing with Gen Y.<br /><br />Facebook and Twitter are two of the most popular social networking sites to immediately get connected to the Gen Y audience. Check out Agency Creative’s Facebook and Twitter to begin your connection:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/AgencyCreative">http://www.facebok.com/AgencyCreative</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/agencycreative">http://twitter.com/AgencyCreative </a>Jenifer Bileshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05441628918649828753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-19574519735686943812009-09-02T15:35:00.006-05:002009-09-03T11:49:56.140-05:00The Twittering/Facebooking of America<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinN2nbe6u4Ut5fAium1IlmGX6r3A2LHOSuSYXsqLtjDb77lZfYqpHxNRuqc6se4ODIbg3suPpaBt7sW2BBR5787WbujZJKZg4CvKjtu1CJrkVa9vklcaYP_ca9A065pGGQI5dhGJjuSGIb/s1600-h/090309Artie-Twitter.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinN2nbe6u4Ut5fAium1IlmGX6r3A2LHOSuSYXsqLtjDb77lZfYqpHxNRuqc6se4ODIbg3suPpaBt7sW2BBR5787WbujZJKZg4CvKjtu1CJrkVa9vklcaYP_ca9A065pGGQI5dhGJjuSGIb/s400/090309Artie-Twitter.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377284391594317474" /></a>I'm paid to be clever. That's how I feed my family. So why squander my wit on Twitter? Why give up the groceries for free on Facebook? I do it to stay connected with old friends. So a guy I haven't seen in five years--who now lives in Ohio--can tell me I made him laugh. But the pressure is incredible. <span style="font-style:italic;">Artie Megibben is</span>... what? I can't just say, "I'm ordering a coffee at Starbucks." After all, I'm a Creative Director. I have to say something cute. Right? And so I do. But I don't get a nickel for it--just friends who I make smile.<div><br /></div><div>Of course, there are other reasons some one might send a tweet or update a Facebook wall. It can actually improve the organic rankings of your company's Web site. How awesome is that? I know! You see, we have special knowledge of cool stuff like that at Agency Creative. We are into Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and Web 2.0. We know how to raise your rankings with Google and Yahoo. We know how to sneak hardworking keywords into your Web content and how to streamline your nav menu to make it more intuitive. It's sort of secret Ninja knowledge that we would love to share with you face-to-face. Or Facebook-to-Facebook. Whatever works for you. Now, excuse me while I think of something clever to tweet.</div>Artie Megibbenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04201871873216668819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-7408850229099086302009-08-28T18:41:00.009-05:002009-09-08T12:12:38.599-05:003 Must-Have Tools for Performing Effective Search Engine Optimization<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEuy76pY1FSRuacux-DMb-cFv3w-N657wMhcgEQZQQ80AIk20n38NL8UFsHlQSJxZdjzbtb_YnhNv0Zph0QgC_msE2gHyCw3XdhvYrNYHSzKbGV3_r5E8Gy1kIOhuWoeaA1-DV9zdbuM/s1600-h/083109Gregg-SEO.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEuy76pY1FSRuacux-DMb-cFv3w-N657wMhcgEQZQQ80AIk20n38NL8UFsHlQSJxZdjzbtb_YnhNv0Zph0QgC_msE2gHyCw3XdhvYrNYHSzKbGV3_r5E8Gy1kIOhuWoeaA1-DV9zdbuM/s400/083109Gregg-SEO.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377007326542326946" /></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Search Engine Optimization, also known as SEO, is the process of doing everything you can to make sure your Web site ranks well organically on search engines in hopes of efficiently capturing site traffic among qualified online users.<br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We have taken the three most important tools related to SEO and compiled a short and powerful list for anyone who is interested in SEO.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Google’s Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Google guide won’t teach you how to trick Google into ranking your Web site first, but it will tell you the do’s and don’ts when it comes to optimizing your site for Google.<br /></div><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/IUOhD">Google’s Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide (PDF Download)</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Web Site Grader</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This toolbar lets you check page rank, domain age, Meta data, links on social bookmaking sites and many more tools.<br /></div><a href="http://bit.ly/Ogg2N"><br />Web Site Grader</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Search Engine Ranking Tool</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Mikes-Marketing-Tools.com published this free tool to quickly and easily check the rankings for a key phrase with a domain name across multiple search engines in seconds.<br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.mikes-marketing-tools.com/ranking-reports/">Free Search Engine Rankings Check in Seconds</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">These tools are a great start for building a Web site that utilizes Search Engine Optimization, but that is only half of the work. The other half of the work is knowing how to properly construct a Web site using relevant keywords, Meta data, content, and link building. When developing content it is important to be strategic if you want your Web site to be search engine friendly.<br /></div>Gregg Guzmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12914397931463762965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-56623375976181523382009-06-04T10:08:00.002-05:002009-06-04T10:11:03.486-05:00Tyler Technologies Partners Up With Agency CreativeWe are happy to announce that we have just been named agency of record for Plano-based Tyler Technologies. Tyler Technologies is a publicly traded company that provides software & services to more than 7,000 local government offices throughout all 50 states, the US Virgin Islands, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom.<br /><br />“Agency Creative clearly demonstrated their experience, strong creative and keen strategic branding insights. They fully understood the daunting scope of our needs and our unique opportunity to grow this brand. Add to that instant sense of chemistry, and we knew we had found true marketing partners,” confided Samantha Crosby, Senior Director of Marketing, Tyler Technologies.<br /><br />“Agency Creative is thrilled to be part of the Tyler Technologies team,” said Agency Creative President, Mark Wyatt. “We look forward to advancing the power of this already significant brand.”<br /><br />Agency Creative is a full-service strategic branding agency that specializes in helping companies deal with the challenges and obstacles that are associated with brand transition. If your brand is in transition, call us at 972.488.1660. It’s what we do.Mark Wyatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15309102904443736685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2573114432088900596.post-14079558943487325612009-05-20T17:12:00.003-05:002009-05-20T18:13:28.743-05:00Agency Creative launches new branding campaign for Allied Affiliated FundingAllied Affiliated Funding, formerly known as Allied Capital Partners, is a nationwide leader in commercial finance specializing in accounts receivable factoring - also known as invoice factoring. Allied selected us in late 2008 as their agency of record.<br /><br />"The Agency Creative team has been an absolute delight to work with on the re-branding of our company. Their professionalism, strategic guidance, creativity and keen attention to detail is refreshing. I have been very pleased with the exceptional work and service we have received, and I am glad to have found such a reliable and innovative agency partner," stated Karen Tramel, Director of Marketing.<br /><br />On April 21, we launched the Allied's new strategic brand positioning and branding campaign. <a href="http://www.agencycreative.com/case_study_1.html">Read</a> the full story and see the creative.Mark Wyatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15309102904443736685noreply@blogger.com0