Are Printed Brochures Dead?

Are Printed Brochures Dead?

The answer may surprise you

The internet has replaced brochures, right? Now that you have a great web site and all of your information is there, you no longer need to produce brochures, right?

Many people feel that way. Just over the past few years, I’ve noticed that the days of huge press runs appear to be over. In fact, some companies and communities have completely eliminated printed brochures. While I understand the concerns over the cost of printing and related postage for direct mail, I disagree with anyone who believes that there is no need for brochures. The facts just don’t support this notion.

Imagine this; you go to a car dealership to shop for the latest luxury model you’ve had your eye on for a long time. Maybe it’s a Mercedes, a Cadillac, or even the latest sports car. It’s a beautiful thing. The paint is amazing, the interior is fine leather, and the stereo is unbelievable. You’re almost ready to buy but you want to wait 24 hours in order to ponder your decision and discuss the purchase with your spouse. You are psyched! As the sales person walks you to the door, she hands you her card and a flimsy brochure that she just printed on her desktop inkjet printer. Thud! Your opinion of the car and the dealership just hit rock bottom. Would this really happen? Never! Automobile manufacturers are known for their beautiful brochures.

At Brand Acceleration, we work with architects, engineers, and builders who create beautiful multimillion dollar buildings. Like the luxury car, the workmanship, design elements, and emotion require a beautifully crafted brochure that appropriately matches the beauty of their buildings.

Economic development professionals, the other side of our business, often meet face-to-face with c-suite executives and site selection consultants, hoping they will make a multimillion dollar investment in their community. After investing millions of dollars in industrial parks, infrastructure, and spec buildings, this is no time to hand them a nasty brochure that was cobbled together and printed on your desktop printer, which is low on red ink.

While I agree that an electronic version of a well-produced brochure should be available on your web site, I also believe that a short run of professionally printed brochures should be available for those important face-to-face meetings with prospects and clients. An expertly crafted brochure helps establish a brand image that such clients expect. Anything less could insult the client and kill the deal.

What exactly goes into a professionally produced brochure?

It’s very important, after all, to do it right. With so much on the line, there’s no room for cutting corners. First, it’s important to have a well thought out strategic plan for the brochure, identifying audience needs and expectations and matching them with your deliverables. Next, the copywriting must be stellar. Expertly written copy is more that pretty words. It has an amazing ability to romance the reader, positively conveying your key messages. Next comes design. More than beauty, great design is the art of conveying a brand message through expertly crafted visuals. Then, of course, a brochure must be produced by a professional printer with the experience and attention to detail that yields exceptional results. If corners are cut anywhere along the way, the results could be less than stellar and not worthy of your company or community. The quality of a brochure should certainly meet or exceed the quality of the product, service, or place being promoted.

Which works better, direct mail or e-mail?

While I do like the lower cost and measurability of e-mail marketing, I would never rule out the power of direct mail. I like both. Together with other tools, an effective marketing communications program includes printed brochures. They have staying power.

For our clients, we often use a broad approach, utilizing brochures, e-mail marketing, online advertising, direct mail, social media marketing, and anything else that combines to grow a brand and generate results. We’ve also had great success using printed brochures in combination with such items as flash drives, CD/DVDs, QR codes, and even peanut butter and jelly packs.

Are printed brochures dead? Absolutely not! As in the past, they are an integral part of a broad mix of marketing tools that can successfully pave the way for marketing success.

I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to share your thoughts and personal experiences below.

Have a great week,

Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis: 317.536.6255

Charlotte: 704:230:0394

Atlanta: 404.474.7980

Fax: 317.222.1425

Cell: 317.523.7380

jim@brandaccel.com

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Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and public relations firm with a focus on economic development, architecture, engineering and construction.

It Never Pays to Be a Know-It-All

It Never Pays to Be a Know-It-All

Listen to your clients, team, and advisors

Several years ago, when I was working at another ad agency, I answered to a guy whose personality was, let’s say, outgoing. It was my first ad agency job and I was totally ignorant about how such organizations worked. I had worked for years on the client side and in publishing, broadcasting, and event management. I was a marketer, but the agency business was foreign to me. My mode of operation was simple; listen to the client and my team and then make informed decisions.

For Mr. Know-it-all, my listening moments were a problem. He perceived my silence as a lack of confidence and a sign of weakness. His MO was exactly the opposite. An agency veteran with a loud-and-proud confidence, his approach was to dominate discussions and convince clients that he was the expert. Some people accepted his exuberant confidence while others were just too afraid to challenge him, feeding his personality. Back at the office, he had the ear of the agency owner, a hunting and fishing buddy who liked his take-charge approach.

As you might expect, he and I had issues. My approach was to listen to clients in an effort to pin-point their challenges and then recruit my team to flesh out and suggest solutions. A one-man expert, he liked to tell clients what they should do and sell agency services. Needless to say, we had our moments.

That job, and my experiences with Mr. Know-it-all, ended up providing life experiences that significantly influenced who I became and how Brand Acceleration now serves client needs.

First, we recognize that our clients are the experts in their fields. They have knowledge and experiences that we may not have. They understand their clients and industries at a level that may be much deeper than we do. We’re marketing experts and our responsibility is to ask questions, shut up, and hear their challenges.

Next, we remember that our role is to serve as an extension of our clients, bringing ideas and solutions that are based on our experiences. As the owner and face of the company, I rely heavily on the expertise and experience of my team.

Specialization helps

When I started Brand Acceleration, it was because I recognized a disturbing trend in the ad agency industry. Most relied greatly on their creative capabilities and offered little or no industry counsel to their clients. As a result, the business often went to the agency with the most interesting creative and the lowest prices. Another trend was that the average length of the agency/client relationship was a whopping 18 months. I thought that was pathetic.

Our style is totally old school. By specializing in economic development and AEC, we offer significant depth of knowledge about the expectations of our clients’ audiences. We win and our clients win.

For example, our economic development clients love the fact that we have a deep understanding of site selection consultants, real estate brokers, and c-suite executives. We know how they interact with marketing tools such as web sites, videos, social media, and advertising. This knowledge makes conversations with our clients much better since they never have to teach us about their needs. We speak their language and offer informed solutions.

Recently, we deepened our team even further with the development of the Brand Acceleration Board of Advisors. These industry leaders, including experts from several industry categories, offer us outstanding insights that make us even better. Watch for a detailed announcement about this amazing group.

So, if you would like a marketing partner that offers expertise without the bullying attitude, I hope you’ll give us a call. We’ll listen to your challenges and offer knowledge-based solutions.

I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to share your thoughts and personal experiences below.

Have a great week,

Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis: 317.536.6255

Charlotte: 704:230:0394

Atlanta: 404.474.7980

Fax: 317.222.1425

Cell: 317.523.7380

jim@brandaccel.com

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Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and public relations firm with a focus on economic development, architecture, engineering and construction.

 

Good Economic News 3-30-13

Good Economic News

Here are just a few of the recent jobs announcements that have crossed my desk in recent weeks.

In Geismar, Louisiana, chemical maker Huntsman Corporation will expand and create 397 jobs.

In Muncie, Indiana, Delaware Dynamics, LLC, a provider of die casting services, will expand and add 13 employees. Congrats to economic developer Terry Murphy.

Macco Organiques, a maker of chlorides, will open a new facility in Paducah, Kentucky, creating 40 new jobs.

Aircraft builder Boeing will consolidate flight training services in Miami, Florida, creating 787 jobs.

NAPA Auto Parts will hire 700 people companywide.

In Hamilton, Georgia, poultry producer Koch Foods will expand and add 750 employees.

In Macon County, North Carolina, metal manufacturer Franklin Tubular Products, Inc. will locate a new facility and create 121 jobs.

In Monroe, Michigan, auto parts maker Hanwha L&C Alabama LLC will expand and create 70 jobs.

Standard Register, a business services provider, will locate a new operation in Jeffersonville, Indiana, creating 360 jobs.

In Marion County, South Carolina, Essex Holdings, Inc., a global resource company, will open a facility and hire 215 people.

Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology will expand its training facility and add 185 employees.

In Madison County, Indiana, truck body maker Warner Bodies, Inc. will expand and add 150 employees.

Martinrea Jonesville, a metal forming company, will open a new facility in North Adams, Michigan, creating 122 jobs.

Metal Shark Boats, a maker of watercraft, will expand in Jeanerette, Louisiana, creating 200 jobs.

Outokumpo Stainless Bar, a metal fabrication company, will expand in Chester County, South Carolina, adding 20 employees.

In New Albany, Indiana, jewelry producer Ronaldo Designer Jewelry, Inc., will open a new plant and hire 80 employees.

Kovatch Mobile Equipment, a maker of water hauling tanks, will expand in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, creating 100 new jobs.

Restaurant Hurricane Grill and Wings will expand and add 420 employees.

Peer Foods Group, Inc., a distributor of Food Products, will locate a new facility in Hancock County, Indiana, creating 80 jobs. Congrats to economic developer Skip Kuker.

In Richland County, South Carolina, Foil and Film packaging maker Constantia Hueck Foils will expand and add 15 employees.

In Grenada, Mississippi, sawmill operator Fly Timber will expand and create 30 new jobs.

In Kingsport, Tennessee, food maker Leclerc Foods will expand and create 40 new jobs.

Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth, a provider of hospitality products and services, will expand and create 69 jobs in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

XPO Logistics, a freight services provider, will expand its operation in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, adding 287 employees. Congrats to economic developer Jeff Edge.

Boyd Property Preservation, LLC will expand and create 104 new jobs in Whitfield County, Georgia and 300 in the State of Georgia.

In Kalamazoo, Michigan, consumer products maker Newell Rubbermaid will open a new facility, adding 100 employees.

In Robertson County, Tennessee, ProPack, a provider of fulfillment and freight forwarding services, will open a new facility and hire 22 people. Congratulations to Brand Acceleration client Robertson County Economic Development. Great job, Margot!

Multicraft International, a maker of auto parts, will expand in Pelahatchie, Mississippi, creating 30 jobs.

Insurance and benefits company MetLife, Inc. will create 2,600 new jobs in Charlotte and Cary, North Carolina.

In Rush and Tipton Counties, Indiana, seed producer DuPont Pioneer will expand and create 41 jobs. Congrats to Brand Acceleration clients Tipton County Economic Development Organization and Rush County Economic and Community Development Corporation.

Green Flash Brewing Company, a craft beer producer, will open a new brewing facility in Virginia Beach, Virginia, adding 41 employees.

ICE Recycling LLC, a recycling services provider, will expand in Florence County, South Carolina, creating 15 jobs.

Lockheed Martin will invest in a facility to make tanks for liquefied natural gas in New Orleans, Louisiana, creating 166 jobs.

Sears Home Services will add 500 employees companywide.

In Halifax County, North Carolina, lumber producer Meherrin River Forest Products, will locate a new operation and hire 40 people.

In Vermillion, South Dakota, software developer Eagle Creek Software Services will open a new operation and hire 1,000 people.

In Stafford County, Virginia, food maker Greencore Group plc will expand and add 350 employees.

80/20 Inc., a maker of aluminum products, will expand its operation in Whitley County, Indiana, creating 97 jobs.

In Frankfort County, Kentucky, Hayashi Telempu North America, a maker of auto parts, will open a new facility and hire 103 people.

In Ann Arbor, Michigan, Lyons Consulting Group, an e-commerce company, will open an office and hire 30 employees.

In Vance, Alabama, auto maker Mercedes-Benze Alabama will open a facility and create 500 jobs.

Global Green Lighting, a maker of lighting products, will open an assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, creating 250 jobs.

In Indianapolis, Indiana, Celadon Trucking Services, Inc., a freight services provider, will open a driver training school and hire 500 employees.

In the cities of Holland and Walker, Michigan, Challenge Manufacturing Company, a maker of metal products, will expand and add 180 employees.

TITLE Boxing Club will add 2,500 employees companywide.

OFS Brands, a furniture and logistics company, will expand in Guilford County, North Carolina, adding 188 employees.

In Dodge County, Georgia, heat treating company Aremac Heat Treating LLC will locate a new facility and hire 60 people.

In Pulaski County, Virginia, vegetable producer Red Sun Farms will expand and add 250 employees.

Detroit Thermal Systems, LLC, a climate control business, will open in Romulus, Michigan, creating 300 jobs.

True Communications will expand and add 120 employees companywide.

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, IBM will create a new technology center and hire 800 people.

Otto Environmental Systems, Inc., a plastics maker, will expand in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, creating 32 new jobs.

TeleTech Holdings, Inc., a customer service provider, will expand in Paducah, Kentucky and hire 450 people.

In Augusta County, Virginia, dairy manufacturer Shamrock Farms will open a new facility and create 60 jobs.

Total Jobs Announcements: 16,876

Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis, Indiana: 317.536.6255

Fax: 317.222.1425

Charlotte, North Carolina: 704.230.0394

Atlanta, Georgia: 404.474.7980

Cell: 317.523.7380

jim@brandaccel.com

Brand Acceleration Web Site

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BrandCoach Blog

Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and public relations firm with a focus on economic development, architecture, engineering and construction.

 

 

 

 

 

Good Economic News 3-12-13

Good Economic News

Here are just a few of the recent jobs announcements that have crossed my desk in recent weeks.

Ascend Performance Materials, a technology provider, will open a new facility in Brazoria County, Texas, creating 100 new jobs.

In Fishers, Indiana, First Internet Bank of Indiana will expand and create 50 jobs.

In Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, shoe retailer Rack Room Shoes will expand its headquarters and add 87 jobs.

South Louisiana Methanol will open a new methanol production facility in St. James Parish, Louisiana, creating 63 new jobs.

Hardware retailer Lowe’s will hire 45,000 seasonal workers.

In Clarendon County, South Carolina, pharmaceutical maker Spirit Pharmaceutical will locate a new facility and create 296 jobs.

In Chicago, Illinois, healthcare provider GoHealth will expand and add 250 employees.

In Harrodsburg, Kenticky, Wausau Paper, a maker of towel and tissue paper, will expand and create 76 jobs.

U.S. Tsubaki Automotive, LLC, a chain technology company, will expand and add 70 jobs.

In Hamilton County, Indiana, insurance company Baldwin & Lyons will expand and create 133 jobs.

In New Hanover County, North Carolina, packaging maker North State Flexibles will expand and add 41 new employees.

In Lansing, Michigan, moving services provider Two Men And A Truck will expand and create 125 jobs.

Recleim, a recycler of appliances and e-waste materials, will establish a recycling plant in Aiken, South Carolina, creating 200 jobs. Congrats to Brand Acceleration client Economic Development Partnership. Hats off to Will Williams and the rest of the EDP team.

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Natie USA, a maker of plastic products, will open a new facility, creating 210 jobs.

Crawford Industries, LLC, a maker of plastic packaging, will expand its operation in Montgomery County, Indiana, adding 11 employees.

In Charlotte and Cary, North Carolina, insurance company MetLife will expand and add 2,600 emplyoyees.

In Macomb Charter Township, Michigan, Baker Aerospace Tooling and Machining, a parts and tooling company, will expand and create 188 jobs.

1-800 CONTACTS, a retailer of contact lenses, will expand its operation in Salt Lake City, Utah, creating 654 jobs.

NextGear Capital, an automotive financial services provider, will expand and create 169 new jobs in Carmel, Indiana.

Weight loss program provider Medifast will add 70 employees.

In Memphis, Tennessee, J.M. Smucker Company will open a peanut butter manufacturing facility, creating 125 new jobs.

In Bartlesville, Oklahoma, engineering firm ABB will expand and add 250 employees.

Global Food Group, a provider of food products, will open a new facility in Clinton, Arkansas, creating 225 jobs.

Walmart Stores, Inc. plans to open a distribution center in Mankato, Minnesota, creating 300 new jobs.

In Kansas City, Missouri, Clay and Bailey Manufacturing Company, a maker of above-ground and underground tanks, will expand and create 4 jobs.

Nuclear energy company AREVA will expand its operation in Charlotte, North Carolina, creating 130 jobs.

MasterBrand Cabinets, Inc., a maker of home cabinetry, will expand its operation in Goshen, Indiana, adding 76 employees.

In Matagorda County, Texas, steel pipe maker Tenaris will open a new facility, adding 600 employees.

Cellairis, a provider of cell phone and PDA accessories, will add 680 employees.

In Bradenton, Florida, Motorworks Brewing will open a new facility and add 30 employees.

Steel building maker Nash Building Systems, Inc. will expand its operation in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, creating 29 jobs.

In Cobb County, Georgia, consulting firm Infisys will expand and hire 200 people.

In Monroe, Louisiana, telecom company CenturyLink will open a new technology center and hire 800 employees.

Printpack, Inc., a packaging products company, will expand its operation in Villa Rica, Georgia, creating 20 jobs.

In St. Joseph, Missouri, I&M Machine & Fabrication, a metal fabrication company, will expand and add 25 employees.

In Hampton Roads and Newport News, Virginia, Liebehrr Mining Equipment New Port News Company, a maker of construction and mining equipment, will expand and create 174 jobs.

Sandwich shop Schlotzky’s will expand and add 1,200 employees.

In Surry County, North Carolina, Awesome Products, a maker of cleaning products, will locate a new facility and hire 90 employees.

In Hanover, New Hampshire, Hypertherm, a maker of cutting systems, will open a new manufacturing facility and hire 500 people.

Southern Finishing Company, a furmaker of furniture, will expand its operation in Rockingham County, North Carolina, creating 11 jobs.

In Mexico, Missouri, steel fabrication company Fluid Power Supports will expand and create 15 jobs.

In Cleveland, Tennessee, Renfro Corporation, a maker of legwear, will add a facility and hire 168 new employees.

Theme park Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, located in Santa Claus, Indiana, will hire 2,100 seasonal jobs.

In Alpharetta, Georgia, tax and advisory services provider Ernst & Young will establish its global IT Center, creating 400 jobs. Congrats to economic developer Peter Tokar.

In Alcoa, Tennessee, ProNova Solutions, a provider of cancer treatments, will expand and add 525 employees.

Lyne Plastics, a recycler and maker of plastic products, will expand in Sedalia, Missouri and create 14 jobs.

In Guilford County, North Carolina, packaging maker North State Flexibles will expand and add 41 new employees.

Bank of America is adding 2,000 employees.

Total Jobs Announcements: 57,977

Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis, Indiana: 317.536.6255

Fax: 317.222.1425

Charlotte, North Carolina: 704.230.0394

Cell: 317.523.7380

jim@brandaccel.com

Brand Acceleration Web Site

LinkedIn

Twitter

FaceBook

Google+

BrandCoach Blog

Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and public relations firm with a focus on economic development, architecture, engineering and construction.

 

 

 

 

 

Your Web Site Is Done – Now What?

Your Web Site Is Done – Now What?

Strategies to boost your web traffic

I’ve seen it many times; a community or company spends time and money on a new web site, maybe even a great one, and then assumes the work is done. There’s nothing more to do. Unfortunately, that’s often where they end their marketing effort. The web site then lingers, attracting very little traffic. Like cyber driftwood, it floats along, virtually unseen.

You see, visitors find a web site in two ways; they discover it via a search engine or are directed to it through advertising or another promotional effort.

Search Engine Optimization

SEO is a mysterious mix of art and science. In order to be effective, well-crafted web sites must be written and programmed with a thorough understanding of how search engines work. The Brand Acceleration writers and programmers are both artists and scientists. They have an amazing ability to craft beautiful and emotional prose while masterfully weaving in a mix of keywords and phrases that help achieve solid search results. Then, our programmers create a brilliant structure that helps assure positive rankings.

Keeping things interesting, the search engine developers love to change the rules on a regular basis. Google, Bing!, and Yahoo have made numerous changes in recent months, keeping our writers and programmers on their toes.

Push Marketing Makes All the Difference

The next, and equally important, way that visitors find a web site is through Push Marketing. Through a strategic plan that includes tactics such as social media marketing, blogs, online marketing, and others, visitors are driven to web sites and, if well-done, converted to customers.

The Story Behind Analytics

As the creator and host of numerous web sites, Brand Acceleration has access to the analytics that tell the inside stories of their traffic patterns. We evaluate web traffic on a regular schedule, looking to see what works and what doesn’t. Regarding the sources of web traffic, we want to see balance. Ideally, we’ll see that visitors come evenly from search engines and push marketing efforts. In other words, our desire is to know that everything is working well.

On the other hand, the analytics will indicate the lack of outbound or push marketing. When no effort is made to grow community of company awareness, the analytics will show two common characteristics. First, web traffic (visitor count) will be low and, second, a large majority of visitors will come through search engines. This game of chance is grossly ineffective because there are competitors out there that are working hard to attract the same prospective visitors.

What are You To Do?

First of all, you must realize that the creation of a great web site is very important. See my recent blog entitled “You’d Better Have a Great Web Site,” for more on this subject. However, the effort should not stop there. Next, you have to accept the fact that marketing communications should never end. The most successful web sites are supported by an ongoing strategy to grow awareness and drive web traffic.

Our most successful clients work closely with our team to identify key audiences, understanding what makes them respond, and developing plans to generate results. If your web traffic or business activity is less than stellar, maybe we should talk. Contact me today to schedule a free, no obligation evaluation of your web site and other marketing efforts. Together, we can discover what is needed to achieve much higher results.

I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to share your thoughts and personal experiences below.

Have a great week,

Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis: 317.536.6255

Charlotte: 704:230:0394

Atlanta: 404.474.7980

Fax: 317.222.1425

Cell: 317.523.7380

jim@brandaccel.com

Brand Acceleration Web Site

LinkedIn

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Facebook

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BrandCoach Blog

Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and public relations firm with a focus on economic development, architecture, engineering and construction.

Good Economic News, 2-20-13

Good Economic News

Here are just a few of the recent jobs announcements that have crossed my desk in recent weeks.

In Matagorda County, Texas, Tenaris, a maker of steel pipe, will open a new manufacturing facility, creating 600 jobs.

Auto parts manufacturer Nishikawa of America will expand its U.S. headquarters in LaGrange County, Indiana and add 25 jobs.  Congratulations to economic developer Keith Gillenwater.

Midwest Veterinary Services will open a veterinary and biomedical research facility in Pottawatomie County, Kansas, creating 18 jobs.

In Clarksville, Tennessee, auto parts maker Akebona Brake Corporation will expand and hire 94 new employees.

D.H. Pace, a provider of doors, will locate its headquarters in Olathe, Kansas and create 280 jobs.

In Conway, Arkansas, internet technology company Inovu, Inc. will open its headquarters and hire 50 people.

In Cleveland County, North Carolina, KSM Castings, a maker of light metal casting products, will open a facility and create 189 jobs.  Congratulations to economic developer Kristin Fletcher.

In Natchez, Mississippi, von Drehle, a provider of paper products, will locate a manufacturing operation and create 100 new jobs.

Schrader Electronics, a maker of tire pressure monitoring systems, will expand its Springfield, TN facility and create 76 jobs.

Microsoft Corporation will expand its data center in Mecklenburg County, Virginia and create 30 new jobs.

In Blair County, Pennsylvania, specialty chemical maker Albemarle Corporation will expand its operation and add 20 jobs.

In Chattanooga, Tennessee, medical device maker Hollywog, LLC, will expand and add 22 new employees.

bioMerieux, Inc. a manufacturer of medical instruments, will expand its operation in Durham County, North Carolina, and create 44 jobs.

Roberts Ventures, LLC, a provider of emergency cleanup services, will establish a regional headquarters in London, Kentucky and create 10 jobs.

Telamon Corporation, a provider of telecommunications products and services, will open a new facility in Kansas City, Kansas, creating 28 jobs.

AirWatch, a provider of mobility products, will expand its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia and add 800 new employees.

In Paducah, Kentucky, NRE Acquisition Co., LLC, a maker of locomotives and railway equipment, will expand and add 25 employees.

In Marion County, Indiana, tool supplier Hahn Systems, LLC, will expand and add 20 employees.

Automotive manufacturer Huf North America will expand its operation in Greene County, Tennessee and create 100 jobs.

Huhtamaki North America, a manufacturer of food packaging, will open a distribution center in Batavia Township, Ohio, and generate 237 jobs.

Newly Weds Foods, a maker of food ingredients, will open a facility in northern Kentucky, creating 115 jobs.

In Greenville County, South Carolina, a fastener manufacturer will open a new facility and hire five people.

Cutting tools manufacturer SC Tool, Inc. will expand its operation in Greenville County, South Carolina and generate 30 new jobs.

Genesis Products, Inc., a maker of wood products for the recreational vehicle industry, will expand in Elkhart County, Indiana and create 100 jobs.

In Birmingham, Alabama, home retailer Home Depot will hire 450 people.

In Peachtree City, Georgia, animal feed ingredient maker Calpis America, Inc. will open its U.S. headquarters and create 42 jobs.

In Merrillville, Indiana, healthcare financial firm Horizon Financial Management, LLC, will expand and create 216 jobs.

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Genesis Energy will make improvements and hire 50 people.

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, brazed plate heat exchangers manufacturer SWEP will open a new facility and create 75 jobs.

Rose Fabricating and Industrial Solutions, LLC, a maker of custom machinery, will expand its operation in Covington, Tennessee and add 25 new jobs.

In Bowling Green, Kentucky, Apla, Inc., a maker of plastic packaging, will establish a manufacturing operation and create 72 jobs.

Pearl IRB, LLC, a life science consulting firm, will expand its operation in Indianapolis, Indiana and create 38 new jobs.

Container maker Norton Packaging, Inc. will open a new manufacturing facility in Monticello, Georgia and generate 90 new jobs.

In Covington, Kentucky, Westpak, a bottle decorating and packaging company, will open a manufacturing facility and create 62 new jobs.

Auto parts supplier US Tsubaki Automotive LLC will expand its operation in Portland, Tennessee and create 70 new jobs.

Online retailer Amazon will open three fulfillment centers in Texas in the cities of Coppell, Haslet, and Schertz, adding 1000 jobs.

In Gibson County, Indiana, auto parts supplier Vuteq USA, Inc. will expand its operation and generate 93 new jobs.

Awesome Products, Inc., a maker of laundry products, will locate a facility in Mt. Airy, North Carolina and create 90 jobs.

Proctor and Gamble, a manufacturer of consumer products, will expand its operation in Greensboro, North Carolina, and add 200 jobs.

Total Jobs Announcements: 5591

Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis, Indiana: 317.536.6255

Fax: 317.222.1425

Charlotte, North Carolina: 704.230.0394

Cell: 317.523.7380

jim@brandaccel.com

Brand Acceleration Web Site

LinkedIn

Twitter

FaceBook

Google+

BrandCoach Blog

Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and public relations firm with a focus on economic development, architecture, engineering and construction.

 

 

 

 

 

You’d Better Have a Great Web Site

You’d Better Have a Great Web Site

Anything less could kill your business

As you might imagine, I look at many web sites. A few are really amazing, some are mediocre, and many are plain awful. The sad fact is that there are still company owners and community leaders who just don't get it.

At Brand Acceleration, we work in the professional industries of economic development, architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC). These are industries in which a web site can mean the difference between advancing toward a project win and being taken off the consideration list. We've made of point of studying how target visitors such as higher education administrators and site selection consultants interface with a web site, and the results will really open your eyes.

Visitors to AEC web sites

When an education or healthcare administrator visits the web site for an architecture firm, for example, he or she is essentially looking for the firm’s portfolio and the resumes of the studio directors. Just as with a resume, the firm’s web site must convince a visitor that the studio team has the talent and experience to create a beautiful and functional space.

A web site which is poorly structured, unprofessionally written, lacks functionality, and is ugly is likely to knock the firm off the consideration list. Sadly, the company may have a very talented team of architects who could do a great job.

Visitors to Economic Development web sites

In this arena, audiences such as site selection consultants and c-suite executives are looking for a well-thought-out package of information. If they can't find it, they may just leave and take the community off the list.

Assuming the community survives the critical first-round look and makes it to short-list status; it may now have to withstand review by company managers and a trailing spouse. I've heard more than one story about a spouse who looked at a community web site just to say, "I'm not moving to that ugly place." When you consider the many thousands or even millions of dollars communities spend each year, it's a shame to lose a deal because its web site stinks.

Similar to a storefront window, a web site may be a prospects first exposure to your community of company. If the display in your window, your web site, is not captivating, beautiful, and informative, the prospect may walk right by and shop somewhere else.

I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to share your thoughts and personal experiences below.

Have a great week,

Jim Walton

CEO

Brand Acceleration, Inc.

Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations

Indianapolis: 317.536.6255

Charlotte: 704:230:0394

Atlanta: 404.474.7980

Fax: 317.222.1425

Cell: 317.523.7380

jim@brandaccel.com

Brand Acceleration Web Site

LinkedIn

Twitter

Facebook

Google+

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BrandCoach Blog

Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and public relations firm with a focus on economic development, architecture, engineering and construction.