Here at Red Room we are always looking for different ways to advertise.  We’re not really into traditional advertising (like radio and TV) because, let’s face it, they are expensive and don’t always work.  The main goal of advertising is to get the word out right?  So why not spread the word in different ways that create intrigue and make a lasting impression.

1. Make a bright and colorful t-shirt with your company’s logo and wear it to events.
2. Embroider/print your company information on dress shirts to wear to meetings.
3. Put your company’s information on your car.
4. Join your local chamber of commerce.
5. Leave your business cards on the table when you eat at a restaurant.
6. Talk, talk, talk, talk.  Meet someone new?  Tell them what you do while giving them a business card.
7. Sponsor local events.
8. Donate door prizes to organizations/charities.
9. Keep your clients happy.  If they are happy, they’ll tell other people how awesome you are.
10. Update your Facebook daily.
11. Make a big stencil of your logo or website address.  Get some chalk.  Stencil your logo/website on high traffic sidewalks.
12. Volunteer for local community events.
13. Always give potential new clients 2+ business cards so that they can give the extras to another potential client.

(If you are interested in the entire article, it is in the April 2012 issue of Inc. magazine, page 28)

At Red Room we spend an awful lot of time figuring out the best ways to increase views to our website as well as our client’s websites.  A web site is no good if there is no traffic.  So here’s some easy ways to increase website views.

1. Link your website with a Facebook fan page for your business.

It’s as easy as adding a little “Facebook” button link on your website! Click on it and you are automatically redirected to your business’s fan page.  Facebook has surpassed both Yahoo and Google as the most visited web site on the internet.   With that said, a fan page for your business is a great way to drive traffic to your site!   Encourage friends, family, clients, etc. to “like” your page…the more “likes” the more exposure.  Posting daily status updates about what is going on with your business keeps fans engaged.  Here at Red Room, we use the Facebook page all the time to drive traffic to the website (theroomisred.com).  When we post a new blog, a link to the blog post is immediately posted to Facebook.  We also upload photos, new websites, and information on local events in which Red Room participates.  Having just created the Red Room Facebook page maybe three months ago (it’s about time, right?) we’ve seen the views to theroomisred.com double. Who can argue with that?

1. Create videos on YouTube. Embed them in your website. Post them to Facebook.

People like videos, whether they are funny or informative.  Own a restaurant?  Make a video on how to batter fried seafood.   Have a bed and breakfast?  Create a real time tour of your establishment.  Run a pool company?  Shoot a video on the proper way to clean a fiberglass pool.  Anyway, you get my point.  Embedding these videos on your site will increase your views, and having them on YouTube and Facebook is just another link to your business site.

1. Be an active blogger.

Blog, blog, blog, blog, and blog.  About whatever, whenever.  Keep people updated in interesting things, articles you find, inspiration, humorous photos….whatever.  Blog posts show up in searches so if I go to Google and search for “whatever”, low and behold the first two links are blog posts.  Using keywords that are relevant for your business increases the chances of your blog being read by a potential client (for Red Room some keywords would be web design, social media, logos, graphic design, Lafayette, etc…)

So, if you own a business, or even if you just have a personal website, try doing one or all of three of these things.  Let us know how it works out for you.  And if you happen to need any help implementing any of these ideas, give us a call!

1. http://the99percent.com/

Without a doubt, this is my go-to website for encouraging information on productivity, creativity, client relationships, and just about anything else you can think of relating to a small creative business.  The articles are short, sweet, and to the point.  They also feature seminar videos of other business owners.  What I like most about this site is that the articles all have a “you can do it” attitude that makes you feel that anything is possible.

1. http://www.jeffbullas.com/

This site is great source for social media and online marketing.  Jeff Bullas creates step-by-step guidelines on how to stay relevant on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Linkin, and blogging in general.  The step-by-step process is what I like most about this site.  It’s so easy to tweak your Facebook page if you have a clear 10 step process!

1. http://theoatmeal.com/

A sense of humor is an important quality in any small business owner.  If you can’t laugh about it, well it just makes things that much harder.  Matthew Inma is a web-designer-turned-comic-artist that runs The Oatmeal.  He features many comics about being a web designer (if you know what he’s talking about its hilarious) and about life in general.  His comics make me laugh and laughing is good.

I visit all of these sites at least once a week for advice and encouragement.  Take some time out of your busy schedule to read a few articles.  It may be the inspiration you’ve been waiting for.

Be productive.  Market yourself.  Laugh a lot.

Check out some of my other blog posts..

5 Reasons you should hire a professional web and graphic designer

http://theroomisred.com/uncategorized/5-reason-you-should-hire-a-professional-web-and-graphic-designer/

How will HTML5 affect business websites

http://theroomisred.com/uncategorized/how-will-html5-affect-business-websites/

Many business owners these days do not realize the importance of hiring a professional web and graphic designer.  Some think they can do it themselves, other know a guy who knows a guy that does it on the side.  Well here are some reasons why it may be a good idea to hire a professional.

1.  Quality of design and user experience

When running a successful business, image is as important as whatever you are trying to sell.  Professional designers can create cohesive branding (logo, business cards, website, promotional material) for your company.  More important is how your customers will use these branding tools.  Professional designers are well versed in the many ways people use their products and they design accordingly.  Example:  Navigation bars/links on a website.  This is probably the most important aspect of your website and if a user cannot find the information they are searching for, well that is a potentially lost customer.

1. SEO

Search Engine Optimization.  This is a tricky science.  Without optimizing for search engines like Google your website will just get lost in all the other millions of website out there.

1. Cross Compatibiliy

With so many ways to access the internet, it is important for your website to work in Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, and Chrome as well as on any mobile device (iphone, ipad, android tablet).  This does not happen automatically when developing a website.  Professional web designers know how to make this happen and more importantly, know how to fix a problem if your site does not operate in one the internet programs or mobile devices.

1. Scalability

A website that can grow as your company grows saves money and time.  A professional can design your site in a way that makes it easy to add/subtract pages and information without having to build an entirely new website once your business takes off.

1. Locality

It is so easy these days just to search for “web designer” on the internet and find someone in who-knows-where to design your company’s graphics and website, but dealing with someone local has added benefits.  You can meet in person to brainstorm and go over ideas.  Just knowing that your company is in the hands of a competent professional creates a trusting relationship that can grow with your company.

So if you are just starting your business or looking to refresh your company branding, Red Room is the perfect solution. Web site design, print media, and logo design are all done under one roof right here in Lafayette.  Email or call Blake for a consultation (bb@theroomisred.com  337-349-1965).

1. Better-integrated support for video and audio

Rich media websites are nothing new—these tools have been implemented in various clunky ways since the early days of the Internet—but HTML5 should allow for a much smoother implementation of media by offering markup tags that insert media directly in the code. Such practices could bypass the use of plugins such as Adobe Flash Player and QuickTime, delivering media more quickly to viewers without requiring them to stop and agree to the installation of software.

2. Geolocation

HTML5-compliant browsers will be able to determine the geographical location of a user. Many websites already implement this functionality, and mobile phone users are accustomed to geolocation through services such as “checking in,” but geolocation implemented into browsers through HTML5 means that the feature will not be dependent on a specific plugin or tool offered by a developer. The most significant consequence for businesses is that search engines can determine a user’s location and display helpful results from local businesses when they perform a specific search for products or services.

3. Increased mobile phone compatibility

One of the most consistent concerns among web developers, especially for businesses websites, is the implementation of Flash. This web technology allows for the delivery of rich media content through audio and video, and is often used in designing user interfaces. However, for a variety of reasons, iPhones do not support Flash. As more and more users access the Internet through their mobile phones, businesses must be prepared to have visitors view their websites on tiny mobile phone screens rather than on full-sized computer displays. While Flash may appear to be an attractive option, its lack of compatibility with the incredibly popular iPhone should be taken into account. HTML5 will not immediately offer all of the functionality of Flash applications, but it will allow the use of interactive media that was not previously possible through a browser itself, and eventually it will surpass Flash in its media capabilities. HTML5 will unify these rich media experiences under a single set of standards, increasing compatibility across both mobile phones and traditional web browsers.

Many elements of HTML5 are already recognized by browsers and are being used today. To check how well your browser uses HTML5, visit The HTML5 Test and consider upgrading—it makes life much easier for web developers!