Services
We live in a day and age where the old strategies of business are inadequate for modern enterprises. Certainly the old big-picture relational keys are still essential, especially values like integrity, service and excellence, but when it comes down to the specific tools for advancing in a highly competitive, global economy, businesses must fine-tune their efforts and discover the specific keys that will put them on the map in a complicated environment. In our combined decades of experience working with clients in the high-tech era in which we live, we have found that there are eight essential components that truly help businesses get seen and contacted in a way that will promote and advance that company. The following is a brief overview of these services:
01
Web Development
The over-arching goal of Solutions 8 is to provide clients with a solid website development plan, which includes web design, content development, client liaison, client-side/server-side scripting, web server and network security configuration, and e-commerce development. This work lays the foundation for a successful marketing strategy to be implemented, which ultimately results in new clients, new work, and an increased exposure in the cyber-world.
02
Email Marketing
Our team works with clients to develop email marketing campaigns that help them reach their target market. Each email we design has a clear call to action, which ultimately results in helping that client grow his database, drive traffic to his website, build customer relationships, and inform clients or prospects about important product or company updates. Through a strategic email marketing plan, we help attract interest in, build desire for, and generate sales of our clients’ products and services. The best news for many is that email marketing is still one of the most cost effective ways to contact prospects and customers. It’s far less expensive than traditional bulk postage mail, and in many cases, it can have a much larger impact on immediate sales and long term relationship strength than traditional advertising.
03
Video Marketing
Video marketing is the wave of the future. Its bright, fast images create interest and provide a level of entertainment that can replace or supplement otherwise dry informational text. A good video that “starts with a boom and ends with a bang” can grab the viewer’s attention in a way that no other media can offer. A pithy video will deliver a lot of information in a short amount of time, telling a whole story instead of just a one-shot photograph. A well-produced video can profile a company’s products and services in a visually compelling way, drawing in more business and expanding customer bases and exposure on many levels. More and more businesses are turning to this medium to entertain and inform–and best of all, to increase their sales.
04
Search Engine Optimization
A website has to be found in order to be effective, and we have found the best ways to expose a site to the “cyber-world” and drive business to a company. The SEO experts at Solutions 8 work with clients to develop a plan that is industry-specific and fits the budget. There are two major pieces to the whole SEO process: on-site optimization, including content-creation (30% of our time on your project) and off-site optimization, or link-building (70% of our time).
Search engines rank websites by the following criteria: the relevance of their content, the integrity of their code and rate of change (all "on-site" variables) but also by the application's "importance" as indicated by its prevalence throughout the web. Off-site optimization is truly just link-building, which is simply creating cohesive links between reputable and relevant websites, directories, and blogs.
On-site optimization is the most important part of search engine optimization because it encompasses content creation. If the application doesn't have unique and relevant content that is consistently changing, it truly doesn't matter how many links are being built because, while the possibility of indexing increases exponentially, the actual index placement is low if content is lacking.
Search engines rank websites by the following criteria: the relevance of their content, the integrity of their code and rate of change (all "on-site" variables) but also by the application's "importance" as indicated by its prevalence throughout the web. Off-site optimization is truly just link-building, which is simply creating cohesive links between reputable and relevant websites, directories, and blogs.
On-site optimization is the most important part of search engine optimization because it encompasses content creation. If the application doesn't have unique and relevant content that is consistently changing, it truly doesn't matter how many links are being built because, while the possibility of indexing increases exponentially, the actual index placement is low if content is lacking.
05
Social Media
Social media marketing communications coordinates promotional elements: advertising, personal selling, public relations, publicity, direct marketing and sales promotion, and, in traditional models, the content, frequency, timing, and medium of communications was done by an ad agency. However, the growth of social media has impacted the way organizations communicate. With the emergence of Web 2.0, the Internet provides a set of tools that allow people to build social and business connections, share information and collaborate on projects online.
Social media marketing programs usually center on efforts to create content that attracts attention and encourages readers to share it with their social networks. A corporate message spreads from user to user and often resonates because it appears to come from a trusted, third-party source, as opposed to the brand or company itself. Hence, this form of marketing is driven by word-of-mouth, meaning it results in earned media rather than paid media. Social media has become a platform that is easily accessible to anyone with internet access. Increased communication for organizations fosters brand awareness and often, improved customer service. Additionally, social media serves as a relatively inexpensive platform for organizations to implement marketing campaigns. With emergence of channels like Twitter, the barrier to entry in social media is greatly reduced.
Social media marketing programs usually center on efforts to create content that attracts attention and encourages readers to share it with their social networks. A corporate message spreads from user to user and often resonates because it appears to come from a trusted, third-party source, as opposed to the brand or company itself. Hence, this form of marketing is driven by word-of-mouth, meaning it results in earned media rather than paid media. Social media has become a platform that is easily accessible to anyone with internet access. Increased communication for organizations fosters brand awareness and often, improved customer service. Additionally, social media serves as a relatively inexpensive platform for organizations to implement marketing campaigns. With emergence of channels like Twitter, the barrier to entry in social media is greatly reduced.
06
Content Creation
When we work with clients, we help them ask the hard questions, such as:
- How focused is my site? So many of our clients have beautiful sites, but the content is way too broad. We ask our cients, “What would a stranger, a potential prospect, take away after visiting your site? Does it highlight what you’re doing right now? The content needs to feel focused; never too broad.
- What would make this visitor return to your site? Does your website have an updated company profile? Good, new industry articles? Blogs and digital newsletters? Answer guides? Q & A sections? Streaming video? YouTube links? A compelling offer? A section that reflects current company decisions? All of these elements help update and modernize ageing sites.
- Are you increasing your web traffic and rankings? One of our biggest jobs is to convince clients that relevant web content increases search engine rankings and enables potential customers to gain access to their important branded merchandise or services.
07
Mobile Marketing / Smartphone and Tablet Apps
It is important to help clients develop a mobile marketing plan, one of the latest tools to hit the industry. Mobile marketing is getting your good word out with a mobile device, such as a cell phone. We help clients implement mobile marketing strategies to provide customers with time and location sensitive, personalized information that promotes goods, services and ideas. This, in turn, will grow a business and increase its exposure and relevance in today’s business world. Along with a mobile marketing plan, we work with clients to expand their presence through the use of relevant phone applications, or “apps.”
It’s no secret that the iPhone, the Android, and SmartPhones are not only here to stay, but they are here in full force. Everyone is using the cell phone these days to log on, tune in, and plug up. The Solutions 8 team believes that this affords a great opportunity for our clients to promote their businesses. In fact, cell phone apps are poised to be some of the biggest innovations in the next few years. Small businesses are even getting in on the picture and it won’t be long before having your own iPhone app is going to be as important as having your own website. It may already be, according to Small Business Mavericks.
The key to a good app is to create one that is related to your business in some way and useful. For instance, an auto parts shop might create an app that lets users order parts in real time while on the go. Or a restaurant may let users order carry out. Perhaps a bookstore would allow users to place books on hold, or even order and pay for them right through their phones.
We help our clients get creative with iPhone apps, enabling them to keep customers tuned into their business through their iPhones.
It’s no secret that the iPhone, the Android, and SmartPhones are not only here to stay, but they are here in full force. Everyone is using the cell phone these days to log on, tune in, and plug up. The Solutions 8 team believes that this affords a great opportunity for our clients to promote their businesses. In fact, cell phone apps are poised to be some of the biggest innovations in the next few years. Small businesses are even getting in on the picture and it won’t be long before having your own iPhone app is going to be as important as having your own website. It may already be, according to Small Business Mavericks.
The key to a good app is to create one that is related to your business in some way and useful. For instance, an auto parts shop might create an app that lets users order parts in real time while on the go. Or a restaurant may let users order carry out. Perhaps a bookstore would allow users to place books on hold, or even order and pay for them right through their phones.
We help our clients get creative with iPhone apps, enabling them to keep customers tuned into their business through their iPhones.
08
Graphic Design
Individuals and companies are now judged based on the appearance, user-friendliness, professionalism and easy functionality of their websites. Today those wanting to create eye-catching and high-tech sites are seeking out design professionals who can bring state-of-the-art graphic design skills to bear. Solutions 8 has proven to be this answer for many. For many, our design process starts at the beginning with logo creation and concept development. For others it evolves from an existing brand. Whatever the situation may be, our design team ensures that all marketing endeavors send a consistent message in a creative way. Users recognize the company when they are on their website, visiting their Facebook page, or receiving an email.
