We recently launched the newly redesigned Schneider Development website. Schneider Development is a respected home builder located near Virginia’s Eastern Shore in Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads. Schneider turned to Sage Island for significant website updates and creative direction. The new site incorporates the same look and feel as their new corporate identity so that consistent branding carries through all of their marketing materials.

This site also features the same database as the old site so that Schneider Development can continue to manage their For Sale, Portfolio and House Plan sections of the website. We have also included an introductory Flash video to add a visual element that also provides an opportunity for additional branding. The updated site also includes new pages to provide supporting information about the work process and community involvement.

The main goal for this website was to ease navigation for visitors so that they can easily find the information they are searching for. We also wanted to ensure that the updated look corresponded with current marketing materials. The ultimate goal is to not only sell the homes that Schneider Development builds, but to also position Schneider Development as a strong company that cares about each and every individual or family that they work with.

Previous site design:

Redesigned site:

We recently launched the redesigned Educational Record Center website. Since 1971, the Educational Record Center has specialized in supplying schools, libraries, day care centers and individuals with the best children’s media available. As a long time client of Sage Island, our goal was to provide an updated look and feel while also improving the online user experience.

By utilizing the same database with an updated organization, visitors can now search and browse products in a much more intuitive manner. Visitors to the site can browse through products based on Media Type or through the standard site search. Interior pages also include many more products per page and allow for filtering and sorting, improving customer experience.

The ongoing goal for this website is to improve customer conversion rates while building and retaining a strong customer base. The new site, coupled with ongoing search engine optimization and a Google AdWords campaign, will serve as a measurable and long-lasting business tool.

Previous ERC Kids Website

Redesigned Website

On Monday, General Motors launched a new ad campaign and website to promote the RE: Invention of GM.  This new campaign coincides with the seemingly inevitable Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing which also occurred on Monday. In a very apparent and smart move, the new television commercials directly address many concerns that consumers have with the recent bankruptcy.  Coincidentally enough, the first time I saw this commercial, was near a recent news segment about the GM bankruptcy filing.

The commercial can be seen below and includes iconic American imagery and an honesty that they are hoping will resonate with all Americans.  It is the great American dream in a 1-minute commercial spot.  There is the element of defeat, the one-in-a-million odds for success, to illustrate how GM can no longer continue with their past business practices of many weak brands and an inferior cost structure.

The message of hope provides solutions on how GM plans to give rebirth to the American car. Clearly and concisely GM states how it will change for the future of their company.  By focusing on few stronger brands and models, increasing efficiency, striving for better fuel economy and developing new technology, GM hopes that they can re-emerge as a strong contender in the automobile industry.

The conclusion of the advertisement encourages a focus on success, reinvention and Chapter 1.  For GM, this is a great opportunity to streamline their business to reinstate themselves as a powerhouse in the American automobile industry.  While many Americans and news channels focus on Chapter 11, GM is focusing on Chapter 1, the beginning of a new era of innovation for General Motors.

Feel free to browse the new GM micro-site for their Reinvention of GM campaign to further explore how GM is connecting with their customers.  They are reaching out to answer customer questions and begin a conversation about the reinvention and recent court filing.  While we all hope the best for this American company, it will be interesting to follow how this positioning and conversation will affect American and world-wide consumers.

By now you may have realized that social media is becoming the next big marketing tool. This includes many venues such as Facebook, Twitter, Digg, or various other social online communities. It can be a non-intrusive way to “touch” your customers, keep abreast of ongoing conversations, and rate your brand perception. The key to social media is putting a face to your brand and engaging others to communicate with you.

In the emergence of online social media (I am a firm believer that social media has existed forever offline—think word of mouth), there has also been an influx of “social media experts.”  What exactly is new type of online community consultant?  Let’s break it down:

Social: One who builds and grows relationships with others. More than likely the relationship stems from commonality and similar beliefs or behavior.  It involves cooperative communication and feedback between parties.

Media: Media is any tool that is used to store or deliver information or data.  It is the medium by which people convey information and can vary from mass media like television to highly targeted digital media.

Expert: Someone who displays specific skills or knowledge through extensive training or experience.  It is thought that an expert would be recognized as a reliable source in a specific field of study.

Some social media experts claim that they can build online communities using various online media through their experience. The truth is that this new expertise can truly pull from their wealth of information to help advise the best way to grow these communities. In fact, it is wisest to think of these experts as your strategic partner as your business embarks online. This strategic partner should be able to advise your business on how to grow your blog followers, how to encourage community interaction, and how to tie social marketing into a comprehensive interactive campaign.

While the online marketing expert can offer a full range of information to succeed in online communities, it is important to remember that it will be most beneficial if a representative of your company is out there growing the community and communicating with both customers and potential customers.  Be wary of any company that offer ghost writing services, as the most authentic voice is your own. I encourage you to join a few communities and begin offering quality content and finding like users. It is a fun and free opportunity to grow your online presence.

Think about it — you wake up to the radio, watch your favorite morning television show, surf the web at work and are constantly bombarded by advertisements all day. Over the course of a single day, a typical adult will see hundreds to thousands of advertisements.  How will your company break from the noise to actually invite potential customers to interact with your brand?

Here are some tips to help your company stand out in the media saturated digital age:

Have a strong corporate identity.

This is your brand and how you project this to the world. A clear and legible logo that is memorable and visually represents your business will help your potential customers to remember your company. A strong logo can include a mark, a tagline, or an image to fully represent your brand. The colors and professionalism will also affect how consumers perceive your brand. Reds are stimulating, blues and greens are healing and calm, and yellows are happy and optimistic.

Utilize non-traditional communication.

By thoroughly researching and knowing your target audiences, you will have insightful information about the activities they participate in and the places they go. Use this knowledge as a venue to reach out to the customers when they are not expecting it. This can also include advertising with complementary products. For example, if my company sold skateboard decks, I would want my product at local skate parks and available to skaters in the event of a rider breaking their board. Complementary products and services could include grip tape, snacks, or skateboarding lessons. Diversify where and how you communicate with potential customers.

Offer superior value.

What makes you different from your competitors? Is it excellent and responsive customer service, fast lead times, or a high quality product? Customers want to know what value your products and services offer. How you communicate these value-added attributes of your products and services will greatly influence how potential consumers perceive your brand. Make your company memorable by providing a superior value to your customers and clearly communicating this distinctive trait.

We’re excited to announce the launch of Wrangell Homes‘ redesigned site. Wrangell Homes is a custom home builder in Wilmington, NC committed to superior craftsmanship, creative architecture and the finest materials for any project budget. The website features a high-end look and feel and a clear display of some of their finest work.