Here are some interesting highlights from a great article by Hubspot on important factors to consider when email marketing:

“Your email marketing campaigns should be part of a holistic approach to educate your contacts.”

Quick Email Marketing Facts:

• Email opens on mobile devices increased by 34% from April 2011 through September 2011 as compared to the previous six-month period.
• Mobile email usage is at its lowest on Monday, desktop email usage is at its lowest on Sunday, and webmail email usage is at its lowest on Wednesday.
• “Finance” and “shopping” show above average webmail views as compared to other industries, at 49% and 48%, respectively.
• The industries leading the way in mobile email views are, not surprisingly, “social networking” (27%), “publishing” (26%), and “entertainment” (27%).

Key Considerations:

1. Integrating email data with other data systems
2. Improving deliverability
3. Growing & retaining subscribers
4. Achieving measurable ROI
5. Using email for funnel optimization

Read the full article here »

If you would like a free consultation on how to best implement an email marketing strategy, contact Spark to get started.

Think about the way you find information about products and services – are you watching TV ads? Going through your junk mail? Or are you consulting a search engine or a friend?

With so many marketing messages being pushed everyday, we are increasingly better and better at ignoring marketing messages with DVRs, caller ID, and spam filters. Instead, potential customers visit Google and social networks for answers to their questions. The question for you is, will you be there to answer it?

Gone are the days when “Facebook is just a big time waster for kids” and “Twitter is where you post what you had for lunch”. Today, social media is a proven avenue to increase links to your website and create awareness and buzz about your business.

Here are the main reasons why businesses should use social media:

• Get found by people who are searching for your products or services
• Connect and engage with current and potential customers
• Create a community and top of mind around your business
• Promote other content you create to increase links to your website
• Generate new leads

It doesn’t need to take long, but it does take dedication and imagination.

5 Basic Steps to start using facebook for business:

1. Create a Business Page
2. Add logo and complete profile information
3. Add interesting content on a regular basis
4. Connect your website to your Facebook page
5. Promote your Facebook page to gain more “Likes”

The Spark Design Team is an expert in leveraging the benefits of social media for businesses and would be happy to discuss a custom approach that will result in measurable results.

Contact us today to get started »
 

Set out a Blogging / News / Facebook Page / Twitter posting schedule at the beginning of each month that outlines the upcoming posts. Allocate a period of time each day or each week to dedicate to your social media campaign. 15 minutes a day is enough to get you positive results if you have a strategy in place.

Be Interesting

Since you are taking the time to create content for social media, take some time to consider if people will want to share your info. Give them reason to want to pass on your message by including incentives, knowledge, and entertainment factors. And as always, have a clear call to action like “Drop by and mention this Facebook posting to get 10% off” or “Fill in this form to receive more information”.

Establish / Update Social Media Policy

Many businesses are wary of integrating social media into their business because they worry about the ramifications. We hear all the time how business owners don’t want their staff wasting time on Facebook or Tweeting irrelevant postings about what they had for lunch. While it is possible to spend lots of time on social media, some simple policies can keep staff on the right track. Spark can help you shape policies and procedures for your specific business.

Provide Staff Training

Regardless of your social media policies, chances are staff is using social media throughout the day. Rather than punish or prohibit this behavior, provide them with the skills they need to make the most of this time and positively influence your online presences.

Gather Recommendations

One of the most powerful aspects of social media is the viral nature of information through sharing. When people create and share recommendations about your business, it positively impacts people’s perception of you and keeps you top of mind. Don’t be scared to ask clients and customers to “recommend” you on Facebook. Add these positive testimonials to your website and other social media platforms.

Social Media Strategy

Spark Design can help you get the most out of your social media efforts. We can tailor a strategy with action items for you to follow to meet your goals. Our personalized strategy will consider your business goals, your competition, and your available time to put a plan together that is easy to implement.

Social Media Tools

Spark Design can implement the latest technology to save you time and increase your exposure on social media. We can provide you with custom Facebook Pages that allow you to update your page right from your website CMS. We can also make your website automatically post news items to Facebook and Twitter. Social bookmarks are buttons on your website that allow your customers to share content from your website with their social network. Social Plugins allow website users to like your Facebook Page without leaving your website. Spark Design can help you implement the right solutions for your business.

As always, contact Spark to start a discussion about your 2012 social media plans. We will help steer you in the right direction and help you get the most of your time spent online!

posted by Jill

May your holiday season be joyful and productive.

From the Spark Family to your family,

Happy Holidays, see you in 2012!

Our Holiday Business Hours

Our office will be closed at 2:00 December 30 2011 until January 2, 2012. 

For emergencies please don't hesitate to call 778 210 0201.

Google Places gets your business found on local search results on both Google Search and Google Maps and can greatly improve your search engine optimization.

Why Google Places?

1) You gain more visibility.
2) You attract more traffic.
3) You can level the playing field.
4) It’s free.

Google says…

"Millions of people search Google Maps every day. A free listing on Google Maps makes it easy for them to find you. Use Google Places to create your free listing. When potential customers search Maps for local information, they'll find your business: your address, hours of operation, even photos of your storefront or products. It's easy, free, and you don't need a website of your own."

Thanks to your IP address and the advanced search algorithms, Google already knows where you are located. In our case, it’s Smithers, BC. So even though we didn’t specify a location in our search term, the very first results Google returned are from websites located in the same area. This is the power of Google Places. Therefore, people located nearby are likely going to gravitate toward your business because it’s convenient, easy and on the front page of Google.

A google account is required to sign up. With your google account you can edit your listing.

GET STARTED: Go to Google.com/Places

1) Claim your Google Places listing.
2) Optimize for the right keywords.
3) Add images, videos and other media to engage your audience.
4) Provide links to other online assets you own.

We have been nominated in the Tourism Excellence category for our help getting northern BC businesses to the next level of success with professional web and print marketing tools. Spark Design specializes in the Tourism industry, creating beautiful and functional websites for northern communities such as www.visitterrace.com, www.visitprincerupert.com and www.tourismsmithers.com.

Voting ends today for Smithers Chamber Members to chose one of th 2011 Annual Community & Business Awards Nominees. 

The Polls are OPEN! Nominations are closed but you can START VOTING NOW for the Win a FREE Website Contest.

Thank you to all those who have nominated a deserving business or organization! Here is the final list of nominees:

1. Storytellers Foundation
2. Matt's Journal of Backcountry Skiing
3. Freedom Flights Parrot Rescue
4. Wolverines Hazelton Hockey team
5. North Beach Surf Shop
6. Kyahwood Forest Products
7. Kilb Design
8. Mount Moresby Adventure Camp Society
9. The Kitimat Humane Society
10. The Islands Women Society 
11. Enigma Apparel and Promotions
12. Kispiox Music Festival 
13. Smithers Community Services
14. Shames Mountain

The nominee with the most heartfelt pitch and most votes wins!

Voting starts September 15th-Sept 30th on our Facebook Contests Page »

Vote for your favourite business or organization to help them win a FREE Website!

Vote Here »

BY JENISE UEHARA HENRIKSON

Say what you will about the tidal wave that is social media: it’s over-hyped, a fad halfway through its 15 minutes, that <insert social network, platform, app> surely won’t be around in a few years’ time.

But take a look below at the steep curve of the user growth rate in all age ranges and demographics, and the continuing pervasiveness of social networking into every facet of work, play and life in general. It’s hard to argue that social media hasn’t changed forever how we interact and connect online. See for yourself:

Source: The Growth of Social Media: An Infographic

Spark Design took advantage of the record-breaking rainy days this summer and launched 10 new websites in northern BC! All with shiny new Content Management Systems (CMS) and brand new designs. Congratulations to all our clients for launching their new sites. We look forward to seeing you grow and evolve in the future.

Check them out!

 www.VisitTerrace.com  This tourism website for Terrace, BC got a major design makeover, new CMS, slick gallery, enewsletter, and a dynamic business directory to inform and inspire visitors to the northern region.
 

 www.SkeenaHeliskiing.com  - This high end heliskiing operation out of the Kispiox Valley had some major technical security challenges with their European-built website. We got them back up and running with a design refresh and a new rock solid CMS with a custom weather tool and a unique animated gallery to help entice heli-skiers to their 1st class northern BC operation.

 www.SilverHilton.com  - This steelhead fishing lodge had a static html site that was holding them back. We gave them an updated design and new CMS so they can easily update news and photos themselves.
 

 www.PVLGroup.com - This construction / developer group based in Terrace, BC needed to upgrade their CMS and design as well as better optimize their website ranking. Now they are “building” a bigger presence online!
 

 www.markperry.ca - Mark is a well known singer songwriter in Smithers and northern BC and his static html site was out of date and lacked design. He came to us for a new site. Now he’s sporting a graphical theme, large banners and a super simple CMS to post new samples of his music and concert dates.

 www.bvsoccer.ca - This Bulkley Valley non-profit organization had an outdated static html website that was difficult to navigate. Spark built them a cost-effective website that is easy and fast for their volunteers to update regularly.

 www.NWKitchens.com - Northwest Kitchen Centre in Smithers, BC had a static html site that was not ranking well in search engines and was hard to update so Spark built them an easy to update CMS with Search Engine Optimization built in. Their new design showcases their beautiful kitchens, bathrooms and cabinets.

 www.logpilelodge.com - Logpile Lodge in Driftwood of Smithers had a 10-year-old static html site with outdated info and design. Spark created a brand new look with a very simple CMS so they can update their booking availability, photos and customer comments.

 www.tyhee.ca - Tyhee Forestry Consultants of Smithers needed to update their CMS to meet server standards and got a simpler CMS for staff to make easy updates. Spark refreshed their design to meet current browser compatibility standards and installed a new CMS that reduces the amount of staff time required to maintain a good web presence.

 www.kispioxband.com - This website was part of a suite of band sites for the Gitksan Territory in Hazelton, BC. They wanted a consistent look and feel with an easy to update CMS. All the new sites will be able to keep constituents  informed through shared calendars and social media feeds.

For more info, visit our web portfolio >>