Beyond Big Marketing» Cool websites

DIY Marketing Chicago | Professional Photographer vs. iPhone shutterbug. What is the best solution for business?

Mark Cramer — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:22:13 +0000

Digital cameras have come a long way, but the person behind the lens can make a big difference.

Wow this camera is Good!

We all agree the days of $10,000 a day photo shoots are in the rear view mirror for most businesses in Chicago but I can remember when there was a sea of talented shooters in the photography district of Chicago doing just that. Most of them are gone and their studios in River North have been converted to restaurants and boutiques.

Before you invest a lot of your time and energy into an Apple 1to1 class in iPhone photography, consider some of the benefits your competitors receive from working with professional photographers and consider what issues you might be facing.

DIY Photography ~ Doug Brooks – Photography Representative

People who take their own photos to use in advertising or promoting their products or businesses fail to recognize that the inherent lessor quality of their images, as compared to those done by a trained and seasoned professional, often make a negative impression on their potential clients that loses the sale. If the images are sub-par will the product being sold be sub par? If you don’t put the effort into presenting your product in a quality fashion could it be as a result of them not knowing what quality is? How does that impact the sale? Honestly, people may not consciously know why …. but they do respond negatively when something is perceived as being less then stellar.

“Do people know that big marketers often spend a day or more having a single image created for their advertising campaign?

Recently VanKirk photography competed for a job for a boutique company.
No store, all web, and they didn’t understand that their food item had to look fabulous to make the sale.
They asked us how long and how much to shoot just over 30 of their confection items.
We suggested we’d max out at 4-8 per day dependent upon the product itself and how many people were there to art direct.
They wanted all 30+ shot in one day and they needed that day to be the following week.
When I pointed out that would mean taking a picture every 20 minutes in a 10 hour day… no potty breaks allowed, they didn’t get it.
We stated that when it comes to high-end food photography time = quality, that lighting, composition and propping rarely happen that quickly, they simply didn’t get it and didn’t appreciate our attempt to educate them on the subject.

Apparently, someone said they would do it. Someone always does.
So 3 weeks later we found out that the shots weren’t looking that great, the person who accepted the job took nearly 2 weeks to get it done, everyone was unhappy.
It was a lose / lose situation!

When it comes to photography for your business, think twice about DIY photography or the cheapest source and stock photography that makes your site look alike.

When you hire Beyond Big Marketing, you benefit from our experience and perspective from working with a marketing company that understands the value of Professionals like Debra VanKirk and how she can make a difference in your business. Choose this Chicago marketing company and leave DIY marketing to your competition.

Our next blog … What happens when you think your DIY Social Media is “good enough?”

Mobile Chicago customers are looking for more out of your website. Are your ears ringing?

Mark Cramer — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:20:20 +0000

Are you giving your mobile customers what they want or are they calling somebody else?

Your customer is mobile and using their cell phone more than their computers. As a marketing agency in Chicago, we know you need to consider this.

Smell the coffee and get a mobile site!

Mobile Marketing has changed the game it’s a …

resource for information
resource for entertaining
resource for doing business

Your customers have changed their game too …

They want custom information at their fingertips
They want to instantly locate businesses by location and services provided
They want to read reviews on providers and compare
They want to build trust with the company they are selecting and start the conversation right now

You should be providing…

Instant online ordering capabilities
Real-time access to sale consultants
Reviews of products and services
A higher level of connectivity …

Get better connected with your customer and you will generate greater sales. Connect with us.

Beyond Big Marketing launches a new website for Griffith Airport

Mark Cramer — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:19:15 +0000

This Indiana airport is keeping our Chicago-based marketing agency on our toes. This is the third website we’ve created for them in the last six months and it makes navigating around Griffith airport easier than ever. Based on strategies from Google’s wdyl beta site, everything you need to find is at your fingertips. Get directions to the airport, search airport weather, destination weather, flight status, airport news and additional airport services. It’s easy and fun to use. If you are into customer satisfaction 2.0 contact Beyond Big Marketing and let us make your customers happy too. What’s next … look for the first dual website launch from Beyond Big Marketing next week. We will be launching a traditional website plus a unique mobile website for one of our newest clients. If you only have one of these, who are you missing?

Spoiler Alert!!!!!!! Griffith Airport Now has a Mobile version of their web site. check out this …

What do you love?

Chicago Marketing Company Helps G&N Aircraft launch an new website to celebrate 50th anniversary

Mark Cramer — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 12:19:08 +0000

In celebration of their 50th year of being master engine builders, G&N Aircraft is launching their new brand and website. www.gnaircraft.com. Located in Griffith Indiana, Paul Goldsmith, Owner and G&N have been providing quality aircraft engine overhaul repairs and custom engine replacements for customers throughout the country.

50 years of keeping you flying

The website features an automatic engine status update feature for customers and offers easy editing and updates.

Beyond Big Marketing and G&N Aircraft worked closely together to develop a brand identity that celebrates G&N Aircrafts’ 50 years of leadership, experience and commitment to performance.

Black Pencil (BBP), is a Chicago Marketing Agency specializing in Branding, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Social Media and Content Development solutions, has recently launched a branding campaign and website for G&N Aircraft.

Contact Beyond Big Marketing and see what we can do for your business.

Chicago marketing agency and Chicago photographer team up for provide affordable marketing to Fine Artists

Mark Cramer — Sat, 14 May 2011 13:15:29 +0000

What if you needed a website to promote your passion and needed to manage your expenses effectively? Something that lets your fans know when and where they can go to see your work or create a buzz with new prospects.

Bart Harris Photography and Beyond Big Marketing have created a marketing package just for you. It includes digital image capture of your artwork, a personal website, 1000 post cards, an online press release. & and a search engine optimization plan for as less than $1,100.

Just ask Linda Boardman, Oak Park fine artist, how she likes her new website and marketing materials.

How much does your Chicago Marketing agency know about your customer’s website behavior?

Mark Cramer — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 03:09:09 +0000

When was the last time your Chicago marketing company walked you through the analytics for your Chicago business website and discussed marketing strategies to improve your business. Apart from the analytics you view in Google analytics for your website are analytics for Adwords. The statistics they provide are Clicks, Impressions, Click through ratio (CTR), Average cost per click (CPC) and average position.
Did you know that your marketing firm could connect your Google adwords code to Google analytics to see how many people visit your site through paid search as opposed to how many people visit organically? This would help you understand who is interested in which part of the site and help you determine if your marketing company was using the right strategy for your business.
Your marketing agency can also set up goals in Google analytics that will help you see what keywords are converting best on your site. Creating groups of keywords can help you identify areas of your industry customers are most interested in. You can create simple landing pages to match the keywords and identify your customer’s interest.
This is a great way for you and your marketing company top do a little research for your new website redevelopment before you start spending on a brand new website for your Chicago business. Once you see what your customer is most interested in, you can tailor your goods or services to match the interest of your prospects. Your visitors can tell you exactly how to change your website to make them like it more.

Shackle jewelry from SuzyShackleChick

Mark Cramer — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 15:35:51 +0000

If you are looking for a unique jewelery gift for a hip friend or you want to wear a piece of jewelry made by a rock and roll roadie for rock and roll roadies and performers, visit this new website designed by big black pencil. Suzanne has been making gold and silver shackle necklaces and earrings while traveling the world with some of the major rock and roll bands in the world.

There are other shackle jewelry makers around, but they don’t make the original Suzy Shackle Chick Shackles.