Archive for Web Design

Marketing for Today- List The Benefits!

/ April 3, 2012 / No comments

Why List The Benefits?

When you’re planning a Marketing Campaign, make sure you list the benefits! Many people list the product/service and forget to list the benefits! People are educated and will be more tempted to buy your product if they know what the results are going to be!

People Buy For Results

Begin with the end in mind! Why should people buy your service/products? Make it obvious and then add the call to action!  Don’t be too soft on the benefits of your products- think like your potential customer. List the many benefits!

Don’t Let Your Clients Make the Assumption!

So many businesses have the right motive and they market a product or service without listing the benefits! If you’re targeting a new customer, why should they buy the product/service that you offer? We never want to give the job of assuming what the product is to our potential clients- that should be the business’ job- give em all the information!

Call us if you need a Marketing Team or if you need a new and fresh perspective on marketing or web design! We love what we do and we see results!  http://www.rainandcompany.com or call us (727) 432-8693

Make it a great day!

Helene

Owner/Founder of Rain and Company

Category: Branding, Content, Graphics, Marketing, Marketing Agency, SEO, Social Media, Uncategorized, Web Design / Tags: , , ,

#1- We Need To Be True To Ourselves FIRST!

/ March 20, 2012 / No comments

What does being true to ourselves have to do with business?

For those of you who follow my blog on a regular basis, you know that I usually stick to business and to practical tips.  This blog is a bit different.  I want to challenge you and ask you if you are pursuing what you are passionate about?  The business that you’re in, is it what you want to do? Does it come naturally for you to do the things you do? So many people live their entire lives trying to imitate someone else. The sad thing is that all along, they were suppose to be who they are and that brings so much value to the workplace, family, friends… and it draws customers in because they are passionate about the product or service and it comes naturally!

Follow Your Passion- It is Contagious!

As a marketing specialist, I tell my clients that there is one thing that is more contagious than anything else and that is passion!  If you’re passionate about your business and your products/services… then you will draw customers on  your side and they will believe in the product/services that you offer. Without passion, you simply have a blah product/service.

Time For A Check-Up?

We all need to take some time and do a self check-up of where we are in life. Life changes all the time and so many of us need to adjust just to survive. Survival should be a temporary place, but many people make it a permanent residence.  What happens next, is that you start to hate what you do and you have no passion to grow or evolve into the next thing. If that’s you, I encourage you to take inventory of the things you are passionate about and pursue those things!

Life is too short to settle and we do so much better when we simply agree to be true to ourselves first! My favorite saying this year is “I Just Want To Be Me!”

Make it a great day!

Helene

http://www.rainandcompany.com

Founder/Owner

 

Category: Branding, Content, Graphics, Marketing, Marketing Agency, SEO, Social Media, Uncategorized, Web Design / Tags: , , , , ,

Marketing Staff VS Marketing Contractor

/ March 15, 2012 / No comments

Marketing Staff VS Marketing Contractor

You’re in business and you know that marketing is essential to produce growth.  Which one is best? Hiring a staff to do your marketing or hiring an outside marketing contractor?  There are several pros and cons to both. The good news is that you have options, including having both a staff and hiring an outside consultant!

You Have Options

Let’s say you just launched a new product or service and you need a marketing campaign to spread the word. The marketing campaign can and should include several of the following:

  • Brochures
  • Banner on your website
  • Press Release
  • e-Newsletters
  • Mail-out
  • Advertise in magazine
  • Advertise on billboard
  • Advertise on radio
  • Advertise on TV
  • Post on all social media venues
  • Word of mouth referrals on your website

I’m only listing a few, because I don’t want to be too long.  Most of the items listed above cost money, from social media that cost nothing to TV commercials that cost a lot!

The Perception

Some people think that hiring a contractor might be very impersonal. After all, you hire them to do a service, pay them and that’s the end of it right?  Well, as a Marketing Contractor, I would like to give my side of the story.  I’m a strong believer in relationship and building strong rapport with my clients. I hope to never be “just a contractor” but an ally, friend and a long term partner that will help this company grow and be successful. No matter how the internet has changed the relationship aspects of business, the one aspect that remains as important as it was 100 years ago, is trust and relationship.

You Can Have Both a Staff and Contractor

I have worked successfully with a marketing staff to launch products/services. Companies are not limited, but have the option to work with their staff and hire outside contractors.  I personally believe that it is beneficial hire outside marketing contractors at least twice a year, to bring forth a fresh objective and perception.  Let’s face it, everyone has an idea when it comes to marketing!  I’ve discovered that many of those ideas are all good, but might not be beneficial. Marketing Directors should embrace feedback from other professionals!

Benefits of Hiring a Marketing Contractor

There are many benefits to hiring a contractor to do your marketing. I will list a few in an effort to keep it short.

  1. You don’t have to deal with lazy or disgruntle employees who feel entitled all the time
  2. You can hire contractors on a month-to-month basis
  3. The contractor can still be a part of your company and meet with your sales team either in person or via Skype or gotomeeting.com
  4. You don’t have the extra expenses of salary, taxes or benefits
  5. A marketing contractor might have more resources available for you to use
  6. They have a bird’s view of what’s going on and can see the bigger picture more objectively
  7. They can think more like your potential customer

Being in business can be difficult and so many people wear different hats. I like the new Staples commercial with “Dave” and all the roles he plays in the business… but in the end, he’s one guy.  Jack of all trades and master of none!  When it comes to marketing, don’t compromise. Leave it to the experts to promote your products/services.

Make it a great day!

Helene

http://www.rainandcompany.com

 

Category: Branding, Content, Graphics, Marketing, Marketing Agency, SEO, Social Media, Web Design / Tags: , , ,

Does Your Website Make You Look Like an Amateur?

/ March 6, 2012 / No comments

Professional Web-Design

Attention business owners and entrepreneurs- Having a professional website is more affordable and easier than you think!  So many people go the free route with their websites! This makes companies look very amateurish!

If there’s one thing I recommend to all my clients, it’s to have the best, most professional website available. Your website tells the world who you are, how you operate and how professional you are.

Don’t settle for the cheap, free websites…. after all, you don’t want that to represent you?

Check out our portfolio- For more information, send me an email helene@rainandcompany.com

Until next time!

Helene

http://www.rainandcompany.com

 

 

Category: Branding, Content, Graphics, Marketing, SEO, Social Media, Web Design / Tags: , , , ,

The Art of Connecting VS Marketing

/ February 28, 2012 / No comments

The game of marketing has significantly changed over the last five years. Competition is outrageous and someone else will always have a different opinion, course of action, recommendation…and it’s probably good advice too!

Be Different

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to be “talked at”- I enjoy a conversation, especially when it’s with someone I know! I decided to be different in my business. All my clients are also considered friends. This is not just business as usual, I really want them to succeed. I tell my friends about them and I really listen to what they want. It’s called connections or relationships and no one can put a price tag on that word!

Start Engaging

Everywhere we look, we see marketing ads, TV commercials, banner ads and they all scream AT us. It doesn’t matter if you want to see or hear them, they’re there! They are rude and they interrupt a lot.  I call that pushed marketing. They don’t care about me as a person, they just care to get the message out there and get in my wallet- anyone one else feels that way? I started engaging my clients  and I try to connect the dots of my connections. Make it a personal thing- This is not just business as usual anymore.

Go Above & Beyond

If my clients look good and are successful, that’s a reflection on me! Don’t be afraid to go above & beyond for your clients. One way I go above and beyond is to use my connections to spread the word. One of the most important element in doing business with someone is trust. If I don’t trust someone, I won’t do business with them. If I trust them, I will do business with them, develop a friendship and add them to my circle of connections and I will do everything in my power to see them succeed.

We can market stuff until we’re blue in the face, or we can connect effectively and create long lasting business relationships!

Go ahead and connect!

Helene Warner

Owner/Founder of Rain and Company Web Design and Marketing Group

 

 

Category: Branding, Content, Graphics, Marketing, SEO, Social Media, Uncategorized, Web Design / Tags: , , , ,

Do Not Settle- Web Design

/ February 21, 2012 / No comments

The Art of Creating A Website

Do you know that there is so much more to a website than adding content and images? Where you add your images and what you add in your content can be done correctly or it can be poorly done.

Headlines

Make sure you ad headlines that can be captured in less than two seconds. Make your headlines as relevant to your product/service as possible. Try to keep all headlines under 5 words or less and create images that will make people stop to look!

Your Website Represents Your Business

Make sure that your website reflects who you are both in look and in content. On the big world of the web, you might only have one opportunity to impress someone or to make them walk away and never look back. Too many people settle for “just a website” when they should see it as an investment to create a presence online that truly represents you as a person, your business, your service and your commitment to excellence. Your website should be your number one sales person.

Make The Investment

If your website is something that was put together quickly to have a web presence, I encourage you to spend time in doing some research and get your website done by a professional or contact us! On the web, there are no re-do’s, often times, you have only one opportunity to wow, captivate and make an impression. You and your business are worth the professional website!

Call us today or contact us at info@rainandcompany.com for a quote!

Make it a great day!

Helene

Category: Branding, Content, Graphics, Marketing, SEO, Social Media, Uncategorized, Web Design / Tags: , , ,

Marketing – Schmarketing! How To Relate in Marketing

/ February 13, 2012 / No comments

Don’t Waste My Time Please!

So many marketers focus on doing busy work at having something “out there” and all they’re doing is that…. creating busy work for themselves with no results!

How To Make an Impact

Scott Stratten, author of UnMarketing did a survey of 1,000 business owners. He asked them “Why do you buy?” Sounds like a simple question, but the answer is a lot more personal as the bottom results are tied in with relationship and reputation.

Trust Is A Golden Key!

My clients are more than just clients. I take the time to know them and develop a relationship. This enables me to improve on communication and get an understanding of what they want, how they want it and it allows me to for-see what they will need in the near and long-term future. In the end, it’s not just a business deal, it’s my reputation on the line. The most important element of my business is customer satisfaction.  My customers trust me and they know I will go above and beyond. It’s called “I’ve got your back!”

Referrals

When I need a service or a product, referrals are my first search option. I will speak to friends, colleagues, family members and ask if anyone knows a good “name the product/service” and if they do, I feel much more at ease and will be more likely to contact those people. If I sense a trust after my phone call, then I can pair that with the recommendation that other people gave me and a new partnership begins.

Keep It Real

One of my favorite sayings is “Don’t just be different, make a difference!” How can I set myself apart from business a,b,c?  There is always going to be one factor that sets me apart by leaps and bounds…. that’s ME!  There’s only one you and if you remain genuine and true to who you are, it will shine through your work!

Go ahead and make a difference this week!
Helene

Category: Branding, Content, Graphics, Marketing, SEO, Social Media, Uncategorized, Web Design / Tags: , , ,

We Can Market You

/ February 4, 2012 / No comments

Category: Branding, Content, Graphics, Marketing, SEO, Social Media, Web Design / Tags: , , , ,

Four Steps Towards A Successful Marketing Campaign!

/ January 31, 2012 / No comments

Why is it that so many companies keep going back to what they know! Perhaps it’s because the unknown represents taking risks!  Let’s face it, the unknown can be a scary place…what if we fail?  On the flip side of that, what if you win and win big?

Is your company at a stand sill? Are you doing the same things over and over again with your marketing? If it’s not working for you, THEN IT’S NOT WORKING and you NEED to change something.

1. Take A Survey or Ask People You Trust!

Take a survey of your products/services and ask people what they think of: 1. the product 2. the marketing approach and ask them if they would buy your product/service. So many times, marketers are in front of the same product/services and they loose sight of the big picture. Listen to what the feedback is and try not to take offense.

2. Ask Questions to the right Audience!

So many people make it a habit to copy and paste the same thing to the different venues. For example, if you write a blog about your product/services, offer advice or ask questions. If you’re on LinkedIn, post your blog on the various groups but ask relevant questions that the specific group will relate too! I strongly encourage you to use the groups in LinkedIn. You can target the right audience and offer helpful tips or suggestions OR receive good feedback.

3. Change Your Graphics

How often do you change your graphics on your website? If you write a blog, do you add new graphics that are relevant to the blog? Research show that you have about 2 seconds to grab someone’s interest. Chances are, two seconds will be decided with a relevant graphic or a short-to the point header! Go ahead, change it up a bit and grab beautiful, relevant graphics and add headers to your graphics.

4. Think Outside the Box

This saying has probably been overused in the last 10 years, but no matter how much people use it verbally, they need to use it in action! If your marketing plan is not giving you the results you are looking for, you clearly need to change something. Have a good marketing plan in place with target dates and action items. The best people to give you good feedback are your customers- they really do know best! Try something that you’ve never tried before! Look at Best Practices by others. Although they might be from another industry, is there something you can learn from them?  Have fun with your marketing campaigns. It’s OK to incorporate some humor, just beware of the cheesy stuff… again, ask people what they think!

Have fun marketing and if you need help with your marketing, give us a call or email us info@rainandcompany.com or visit our website: http://www.rainandcompany.com

Until next time, I wish you successful marketing campaigns!

Helene

 

 

 

Category: Branding, Content, Graphics, Marketing, SEO, Social Media, Uncategorized, Web Design / Tags: , , , , ,

You CAN Have Both!

/ January 28, 2012 / No comments

Appealing & Functional – Websites

So many people settle for one or the other. They think that they need to give up beauty and appeal of a website if it’s going to be highly functional. The truth of it is… you can have both… NO- You Should HAVE Both!

Having your own business is not a cheap venture. Your website is the last place you want to “cheap up” because your website is a direct reflection of how your company operations, thinks, organizes and so much more.

What does your website say about you?

Take a hard look at your website and look at it through the eyes of a potential customer. If you cringe just a little bit, then you really need to do something about it!

Call To Action!

Give us a call! Our firm always does appealing and beautiful designs all the while making it highly functional. Our prices are affordable and in the end, you will look like a true professional on the top of your game in your market!

Call us today or send us an email info@rainandcompany.com or http://www.rainandcompany.com

Don’t settle anymore!  We also specialize in marketing for small to mid-size businesses! Let us be your marketing today and experience growth tomorrow!

Helene

 

Category: Branding, Content, Graphics, Marketing, SEO, Social Media, Uncategorized, Web Design / Tags: , , ,
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