Filed under: JPA Business Relations, Photography, Publication Design, Web Design
Eating healthy has never been so convenient, educational and affordable to Metro Detroiters. A familiar entrepreneur to Detroit ventures into a successful new business delivering fresh produce to the public on a weekly basis.
Produce delivered direct from the distributor, making your fruits and vegetable fresher and more affordable than you’d find it at your local grocer. We found this to be an intriguing and fresh concept that hasn’t been seen since the milk man.
Fresh Picks Produce
www.freshpicksproduce.com
Mark Jerant, CEO
ASSIGNMENT
Mark first approached us with a concept (drawn on a cocktail napkin) that seemed so radical, but quickly grew with highly successful potential. We’ve helped clients expand their business for years by offering full branding, identity, websites and ad campaigns, but never with such a swift necessary turnover.
SERVICE
Two weeks of dedication, organization, collaboration and many other motivational verbs led to a multitude of products. Stationary, business cards, website, marketing material, recipe cards, product branding, invoices, etc… The business took off rapidly with the number of customers growing by the day and Mark was right on schedule making deliveries within another couple of weeks.
OUTCOME
The 2009 season was as big of a success for Mark and Fresh Picks Produce as it was for us to help him establish his footprint in local industry. We have already begun the process of expanding his website and marketing materials during the winter off-season, leading into a strong start in the spring of 2010.
A new era for headline debuts; James Canning of CANNING Communications launches his official website focusing on the consulting services of public relations.
CANNING Communications
www.canningcommunications.com
James Canning, PR Consultant
PROFILE:
“Before opening his firm, James spent four years of his career with the City of Detroit Mayor’s Office. He served as lead spokesperson for the mayor and numerous city departments, and was called upon regularly to handle the many pressure-cooker crisis situations that occurred. James also was the go-to media strategist for major economic development projects, policy initiatives, and city-wide campaigns.
Prior to his service with Michigan’s largest municipality, he worked at the prestigious Detroit-based public relations agency Berg Muirhead and Associates. James, hired as an account manager during his final semester of college, spearheaded daily communications initiatives for Faygo Beverages, Pfizer, 100 Black Men of Greater Detroit, and The Bloomfield Township Public Library.
James has received two Renaissance Awards from the International Association of Business Communicators Detroit Chapter. The Michigan Chronicle also honored him with their “Young History Maker” award.”
BEHIND THE SCENES:
Freelance designer Jayme Sloan was called in to head the design phase of the new website. Jayme approached the client with the emphasis to design a site that met all of Canning’s criteria and add her professional touch. Her attempt was a success and within a week of minimal tweaks, the design was finished.
At the development desk, Jay Pelc was offered new challenges. The framework went quick, the challenges resolved and the layout was operational within another couple of weeks.
However, unforeseen setbacks caused the delay of the launch by a few more weeks as nameserver issues between two third-party vendors caused a few new puzzles. After a multitude of trials and errors, the issues were resolved and new lessons were learned.
The client profile shown in this posting is a public excerpt of official content provided by the client. Copyright of it’s use belongs to the content author.blockquote>
Filed under: Web Design
www.bookiesbar.com
WHY DO WE EVEN BOTHER?
Web and digital marketing is more than proved itself as the largest and still expanding medium for information distribution for nearly two decades. This provides your current and potential customers with limitless definition of your company’s identity, status in the market, and many other details with the least amount of effort from you or your wallet.
Our society may never see the end of an era of print technology. However, during the latest “Global-Green” environmental trend, we are using print media to further direct the public to web media. This has played the largest role in the growth of web development for the past several years.
In today’s economy, solutions to best fit your marketing needs while keeping your budget reasonable have never been more available. Domain names and farmed hosting companies have become the nickel and dime of your marketing budget. This allows for more spending in areas of functionality, design and interaction with your public.
OK, NOW WHAT?
Your new web development project should always start with a wish list of desired function for your website. Try answering the following questions with as much detail as possible:
- What information do I want to offer my public?
- What information do I want from my public?
- Am I providing a service or a product?
- Is the cost my service/product subject to negotiation?
- Which method of communication do I prefer to have with my public?
- What level of emphasis on my business identity am I aiming for?
- How much can I afford to budget on the development?
POWER OF NEGOTIATION
While all of these questions are essential, the one that weighs most on your mind may be your budget. Starting a budget should not be as complicated as negotiating the budget. Determine how much you can possibly spend and then reduce it by at least one-quarter. This is an effective way to set reasonable goals so you don’t spend more than what you can afford.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
Moving forward with your new budget plan starts with consulting a web designer/developer and comb through options to fit your web plan. Keep an open mind as you may be faced with deciding which options are necessities and which are merely fantasies.
RAISING THE RED FLAGS
Really take the time to think of what you classify as a deal-breaker for the project. This is where that extra one-quarter cut from your budget comes in handy. Ask your developer for a breakdown of costs and reason behind higher priced options that may involve intensive development or time to complete.
LESS BITTER, MORE SWEET
Now that your plan has been broken down, draw up a contract between you and your developer. Consider variables with an expectation of circumstances that are out of your control. Unexpected delays in the time-line or cost may cause bitterness in your relationship with your designer. Be sure to include the following with marginal consideration:
- Options you agree to include in the website.
- Time-line of which you will deliver content and materials of your business.
- Time-line of which your designer will build your website.
- Final cost to complete the project as well as any deposits.
- Copyright ownership of all materials.
GO BABY, GO
Once you are pleased with the contract between you and your designer, you can deploy the project. Most designers will ask for a deposit to secure the contract. The deposit is a percentage of the contract that will incorporate the costs of registering your domain names and farmed hosting, if needed. This may also cover any sub-contract fees for extensive development.
DON’T ROCK THE BOAT
The rest of the project will be history in the making. When you believe in your product, others will too. Stick to baby steps and simple minded methods, never rush to achieve serenity in your new investments. To ensure the quality of your spending and relationship with your designer, consider the following tips while executing a web and digital marketing plan:
- If your company is facing economic setbacks, keep in mind, your lack of marketing will reflect your status in the public market. One of the biggest mistakes in a failing economy is underestimating the potential to keep your public’s view of your company positive and current. This can be done with promotional sales, or statements letting your public know you’re still standing and even willing to help with their financial woes by offering reasonable pricing and services.
- Developers are professionals who understand the basic needs of every company’s presence on the internet, such as attraction, navigation and feedback. It is your responsibility to train the developers about the in’s and out’s of your company. This will allow them to design your website with the knowledge you bring to the table. Respect their creative process as much as you’d expect them to respect your knowledge of your profession. Collaboration between the expertise of you and your developer will ultimately result in a multi-functional work of art.
- Work closely with your developer by making yourself available if they have questions or concerns. Keep in touch with the progression of your website and offer extensive feedback during the production stages. A developer would rather have constructive criticism during the creative process than encounter delays with something that will not appeal to you or your public.
