We are excited to let all our Sage fans know that Fells Point Surf Co. has launched! This site, built in ASPDotNetStorefront, allows the client great control in editing content on topic pages, managing products/categories, as well as managing online sales through automatic Credit Card processing. In addition to the cool storefront features such as a wish list, coupon codes and gift cards; this site also features a WordPress blog which automatically feeds their Facebook page, as well as an Email Newsletter sign up, which automatically opts email addresses in their email system Constant Contact. When you get a chance, be sure to drop by and leave them a note on their blog!

We’re looking for a motivated, creative and analytic thinker with excellent communication and leadership skills to join the Traffic and Search Strategy team in our Wilmington, North Carolina office.

As a Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Specialist, your responsibilities will be to design, develop and implement PPC campaigns on major search engines including Google, Yahoo!, Bing, etc.

The SEM Specialist will also work with Account Executives, Graphic Designers, Programmers, and other team members to drive paid search engine traffic success and will be charged with establishing best practices on optimization of a variety of different PPC campaigns for a variety of unique customers. Additionally, you will be responsible for developing and implementing keyword strategies, including working with business owners to understand their specific PPC needs and developing strategies, plans, and campaigns accordingly.

The SEM Specialist will also work with developers to evolve in-house SEM tracking and reporting tools and keep current on SEM developments within the industry.

Responsibilities
* Create, manage and optimize PPC campaigns in support of business goals for Sage Island customers.
* Continuously review and optimize PPC campaigns, including thorough analysis of profitability of campaigns, keyword lists, landing page quality, downstream feedback of lead and traffic quality, etc.
* Serve as internal search expert to ensure best practices are shared and leveraged by all groups.
* Continuously improve tracking, reporting and profitability of the SEM efforts.
* Analyze and translate quantitative and qualitative data from web analytics tool into actionable SEM plans
* Research and develop best practices to identify new market opportunities and maximize program profits with improved paid campaign performance and organic rankings

Skills
* Knowledge and experience with the creation, management, and optimization of PPC campaigns
* Experience with PPC campaign management and optimization tools
* A quantitative approach to traffic measurement and experience with collecting and interpreting site visitor statistics
* Experience using Microsoft Office programs (Excel, Word, etc.)
* Must be detail-oriented with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
* Strong written and verbal communication skills a must
* Ability to work individually on a project or in a team environment
* Self-starter approach to work, with an eagerness to consistently meet and exceed objectives and take on more responsibility.

Qualifications/Requirements
* 1 – 3 years experience in marketing
* Bachelors degree, preferred Marketing, Journalism, English, Communications

Full-time with benefits package. Send us a cover letter and resume. Specify Marketing Specialist in subject line to jobs@sageisland.com.

Not only are we avid supporters of Chic-fil-A, being a marketing agency we are huge fans of fabulous marketing ideas–and Chic-Fil-A has done it again! Honoring the unofficial, yet nationally recognized Cow Appreciation Day, today if you dress up like a cow you get a FREE meal!

Well, the Sage team, or should I say “Cow Crew”, couldn’t pass this opportunity up! Taking a moment to create our best last minute cow costumes, we attached spots, ears, noses and tails to ourselves and entered the CFA as proud as ever for lunch. The Wilmington herd of cows was all present, and Chic-fil-A did a fabulous job promoting this event. Complete with balloons, magicians, the CFA cow, spin the wheel coupons and much more, we at Sage Island feel this marketing tactic was a success and brought in a tremendous amount of foot traffic! Great job and thank you CFA! Always a pleasure to participate in the food, festivities and fun!

I am happy to announce that Dominion Wealth Management, LLC launched their site this week.  The site was developed to match the company’s look and feel that was developed through the logo, brochure and corporate identity package that we developed earlier this year.  The site was built in DotNetNuke and provides a way for Dominion Wealth Management to showcase their services and expertise to potential customers.

If you’re like me, you’re constantly learning something new when it comes to SEO.  Keeping up with the ever changing trends is hard enough, understanding exactly how search engines work can get overwhelming. Recently I stumbled upon what is now my go-to SEO Reference:  The Beginners Guide to SEO. If you haven’t read through this tutorial (which chances are pretty good you have, since it’s the world’s most read SEO guide)  I recommend you visit the site! You can read online or download a copy of this really helpful information.

We are currently seeking a talented Graphic Designer with advertising and/or branding experience to join our Advertising team!

This Graphic Designer will develop compelling print and website designs that effectively convey unique brand experiences and maximize online marketing.​ We are looking for a design “rockstar” to develop and execute award-winning creative from concept through design approval.​ This role will require an ability to translate business needs into actionable creative solutions that make use of web design and print best practices to drive consumer behavior.​ Exceptional creative conception and web/print ​graphic design skills are required.​ ​ Experience designing for content management systems is ideal.

Responsibilities

• Develops creative concepts and designs innovative website structures and graphical assets that convey unique brand experiences in a way that meets business objectives and drives online business.
• Delivers top-notch creative solutions that can be implemented within a content management system, and pushes the boundaries of what a CMS is capable of from a design perspective.
• Ensures all work incorporates defined requirements and employs best practices in creative execution and user experience design.
• Presents creative concepts internally to the creative director and other key stakeholders, as well as externally to clients.
• Collaborates with implementation managers, copywriters and production designers to ensure creative alignment and a smooth transfer of work between teams.
• Ensures all timelines and deadlines are met.​ Keeps implementation managers and creative managers informed of project status, and proactively brings issues/​problems to their attention.
• Adheres to defined creative workflow and contributes to the evolution of our overall creative process.
• Provides quality assurance on all creative deliverables.​ Ensures all files (and associated content) are accurate and accessible on the creative server.
• Participates in kick-off meetings, design reviews, department meetings and training sessions as requested.
• Keeps up to date on design and technology trends to ensure work remains fresh and relevant.

Skills

• Advanced knowledge of digital design tools, including Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash and Dreamweaver
• Ability to quickly familiarize with brand goals and integrate brand experience into designs
• Ability to self-manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast paced environment
• Ability to generate, articulate and present creative ideas and strategies
• Strong interpersonal skills that encourage team cooperation,collaboration, promote enthusiasm, and motivate strategic thinking
• Experience with HTML, CSS and content management systems
• Working knowledge of video editing software and mobile platform design is a plus

Qualifications/​Requirements

• 3-5 years experience as a Graphic Designer (agency experience is a plus)
• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design/​electronic media preferred

Full-time with benefits package. Send us a cover letter, resume and an online portfolio. Specify Graphic Designer in subject line to jobs@sageisland.com.

Recently there has been a backlash in the SEO industry against what is deemed to be a non-scientific approach when it comes to SEO testing or collecting statistical data. Some people argue that you have to treat SEO as part of computer science and be very strict about it. Following this logic you are basically forbidden to do any SEO testing yourself unless you have some actual scientists doing the research.

While I am not sure why some people attempt to push in this direction I can only say it won’t work. SEO is a craft not a science. First off there are far too many variables to determine in SEO to be able to treat it scientifically. Also, if anything, SEO would have to be a social science as most things in SEO depend on human behavior. People writing algorithms, people linking, people creating content.

Read more at http://seo2.0.onreact.com/seo-is-a-craft-not-a-science