Together with the Florida Bar Foundation, Rise was honored to accept an Image award from the FPRA (Florida Public Relations Association) for the Florida Bar Foundation website. The image awards recognized outstanding achievement in public relations initiatives.

Giving to two of the Foundation’s primary campaigns, much of which comes via the Web site, increased during a year when many charities saw declines. The End-of-Year appeal saw a 50 percent increase over the previous year, from $9,100 in 2008 to $13,642 in 2009. The Lawyers’ Challenge for Children saw a 9 percent increase, from $147,223 in 2008-09 to $160,425 in 2009-10. For the new e-newsletter, which is integrated with the Web site, bounces have declined from a high of 42 percent to 13.6 percent, opens have increased from 17.5 to 46.5 percent, and click-throughs have gone from 1 percent to 18 percent. Calls asking for assistance using our Web site have nearly ceased. When inquiries or comments do reveal areas for correction or improvement, they are immediately and easily addressed by the communications staff using Adobe Contribute or by Rise Creative Group, which provides quality and prompt assistance. Overall site traffic has increased by 50 percent from an average of 385 visitors a week during the first month after launch to 579 visitors per week in the most recent month.

We’re huge Orlando Magic fans at Rise, and with this season’s playoff run, we’ve created an electrifying Orlando Magic desktop wallpaper to cheer on our favorite NBA team. Want to show off your Orlando Magic pride? Download yours now and comment with a screenshot of your desktop. Go Magic!

Orlando Magic desktop wallpaper 2560 x 1440
Orlando Magic desktop wallpaper 1920 x 1200
Orlando Magic desktop wallpaper 1920 x 1080
Orlando Magic desktop wallpaper 1680 x 1050
Orlando Magic desktop wallpaper 1680 x 1024
Orlando Magic desktop wallpaper 1440 x 900
Orlando Magic desktop wallpaper 1280 x 1024
Orlando Magic desktop wallpaper 1024 x 768

Installation directions

Windows Users: In Microsoft Internet Explorer, click the image link to open the image in a new window. Then right click, select “Set as Wallpaper” to save as your desktop background image, or “Save Image As…” to save the poster onto your hard drive.

Macintosh Users:Right click on the image and “Save Image to the Desktop”. Then click on the Desktop & Screen Saver icon in the System Properties panel. Click on the + button on the bottom left, and select the picture on your desktop.

Cruising, and mostly guessing our way through some of Florida’s most desolate state roads, Stephan and I arrived last Saturday to one of Central Florida’s largest exhibitions of chrome, leather, and tattoos—The 16th Annual Leesburg Bikefest.

Yes, we failed miserably to meet the Bikefest dress code, but more importantly, we were impressed how so many people had come to a city of less than 16,000 to demonstrate their communal passion and loyalty for the motorcycle culture—easily doubling the population.

Why were we there you ask? Good Question. Our goal for coming out was simple; go out and document how our client, Gilbert Recreation Insurance, administers and executes their promotional efforts at a highly trafficked event.

The smoldering heat and mild dehydration was not enough to turn us away. We were determined to document the process and get the scoop story. From Gilbert’s carefully branded backdrops, well shaded sign-up areas, to their charming representatives, Gilbert Recreation Insurance captivated the attention of many attendees. Patron after patron met with a representative, provided their basic credentials, and then automatically entered to win “$1,000 in cold hard cash”— Too easy.

We took the time to meet the Gilbert road team and ask what they enjoyed, what the loved, and what they would like to see changed at their events. Most of the answers were straightforward and rightfully positive. Their intention, according to their representative Tim ” is to educate attendees, make them feel positive about insuring one of their highly valued assets, and create long lasting relationships.”

After review of our documentation, we’ve come to the conclusion that Gilbert does what it knows very well and been doing so for many years. However, Gilbert acknowledges there is room for improvement and they seek to progress in their social engagement/footprint. Amiably, Gilbert Recreation Insurance has asked Rise to be their guide.

Things we’re looking to do:

• Befriend fellow festival attendees & presenters via Twitter & Facebook
• Create multi-way conversations on said platforms
• Collaborate with fellow presenters to construct larger campaigns
• Implement the friending/liking/follow to the Gilbert consultation process
• Create additional payoffs for attendee’s participation like photo op’s that get sent directly to preferred social platform.

So, our initial goal is see what works and what doesn’t and provide a testament of our progress in the following weeks.

Stay tuned.

Facebook’s new social plugins, specifically the new “Like” button, make it ridiculously easy to share the web with the people you know. This is great for users of Facebook, since they’ll get more exposure to what’s good on the web as defined by their friends. Marketers are licking their chops as well, in anticipation of another stream of exposure for the businesses they represent.

Now that the opportunity for all of these connections is as simple as two lines of code on your website, this sheds even more light on what is arguably the most critical aspect of marketing today: creating information people find valuable. Valuable enough to hit a “like” button.

“I have no clue how much web design services should cost. I’ve recieved quotes from $500 to $50,000.”

This is one of the most common statements I hear when talking to business owners and marketing directors that have never hired a digital agency. Their concern is a logical one. If freelance designer A could produce the same results as digital agency Z, then why pay 10 times as much?

It all boils down to what you need. Notice I didn’t say “…what you’re looking for” or “…what you want”. Reconciling needs vs. wants is a tough hurdle to overcome in understanding when to hire a digital agency. You want a new website? Can you articulate why? What metric are you trying to improve? If you don’t know those answers, that could be the source of your confusion.

It takes a village.

If you’ve never worked with an agency before, you may not realize the effort needed to create an effective site as part of your overall digital strategy. Sites today resemble complex software applications and intricate conversion systems, requiring “design thinking” and strategic planning as the foundation of any well executed digital strategy. The amount of work prior to the creative design part of the process can be as much as 30% of your overall project costs. Complex web applications could need more planning and strategy efforts.

Don’t paint a pig.

If you’re goals are to increase the effectiveness of your digital strategy, don’t expect low cost redesigns of your website to be the “quick fix” to success. Hire a digital agency that focuses on user research, content strategy, interaction design, competition analysis, website analytics, success metrics and more. Back when I was a freelance web designer, I recognized the need to manage all of these disciplines to create successful online digital strategies and started hiring our team of experts. I couldn’t be happier with what we’ve accomplished.

Digital agencies exist because the internet is a platform of opportunity and the way to fuel growth for your company. When you’re ready to take full advantage of the internet for your business is when you’re ready to hire a digital agency.

Dear clients, fans and followers,

Rise is grateful to have joined forces with you over the years. Our gratitude speaks through our enthusiasm and preparedness to continue working with you in 2010, and help you in exceeding your business goals. In our efforts to boost your business to new levels, we have a few simple questions to ask to help us uncover each of your specific needs and wants in the new year:

• What are hoping to finish that you’ve already started?
• What are you trying to change?
• What are you trying to improve on and by how much?
• What do you want people to say about you?
• Which people?

Our expert team is well aware of the opportunities set before us if we continue to partner together. The boundaries are limitless for us all, and we’re sure to keep perfecting practices and discover unending growth. So thanks again for joining Rise on our journey towards world web domination. We look forward to continued success with you, and can’t wait to kick off the new year. Simply reply to this post at your earliest convenience with your responses. We can’t wait to hear your feedback.

The Rise Team works as hard as we play, and we give back even more. When Rise heard about an opportunity to donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, we jumped at the chance to help. St. Jude’s has been the pioneer in the search to save the lives of children worldwide, suffering from pediatric cancer and other catastrophic diseases. With their research and patient care facilities all in one location, miraculous discoveries are within reach faster than ever before.

St. Jude’s partnered with Chili’s to raise awareness and funding for the helper of little patients everywhere by offering super stylish t-shirts for sale at all Chili’s locations. Each member of the Rise Team is now armed with the appropriately adorned garments, shouting “Hope” to all those in need. We wish St. Jude’s Godspeed ahead in their fight against the killers of our youth. We share one common goal, to raise awareness in our communities and build a brighter future for those less fortunate. And we look pretty spiffy too, don’t ya think?

Literally! There were some pretty heavy winds on Friday night, but that didn’t stop us from having a great time at Kres and Ember. Take a peek at our pics… It’s evident that our devotion to see things through (and have a good time in the process) withstands even the toughest weather conditions. The Rise Team is always committed to getting the job done right.

We’re also committed to building bonds and cultivating relationships that are mutually beneficial to all parties involved. The Rise Team knows how important it is to respect boundaries and allow your project to breathe. That’s why we’re always looking forward to your input and expertise.

So, thank you again for all of your hard work and helping hands. Without you our schedules would be empty, and we wouldn’t have the excitement of new challenges and expectations to exceed everyday. It’s only with your help that we can continue to do what we love, and make the best darn websites possible.

Happy holidays!

I just wanted to share part of the fun Rise had in 2009. Here’s our 2009 Agency Book.

I meet with a lot of people ready to jump into to a website business with some good, and some not so good ideas.  If you have a “killer” website idea and are ready to act, consider 7 lessons I’ve learned from first hand experience with small online startups.

Thoroughly know your website’s subject.
You have to have the chops. Be the best in what your building your site around. If you’re not the expert, find out how you can get the experts info on your site. Content is king and the king has to rule your domain.

Plan your marketing platform.
Do you have a twitter, facebook and youtube account? Today’s marketing is driven by the social media space. Your platform is the key to connect to your audience.

Test your assumptions.
What are you assuming about your idea or the marketplace that compels you to move forward? Is it possible your market is smaller than you think or don’t value what you want to provide as much as you’re hoping? Don’t build on online business from an assumption. Build one out of passion. In the end if you don’t kill it, you’re at least doing what you love and will make a living from it.

Check your expectations.
Think you’re going to have this site built and instantly make bank? Are you hiring a web agency and think you won’t have to do any heavy lifting? Expect to work…hard. Hustle is the only way you’ll build your brand and your business. Developing a site with a web agency requires a ton of time and attention on your part.

Whatever your business is, customer service is your only business.
There’s no substitute for making every one of your customers feel special.

Iterate and update your site quickly…or die.
Version one of your site won’t be perfect. Are you always making it better? Listen to your customers. Fix problems. Focus on usability instead of just being novel.

Throw away your 5 year business plan.
I strongly believe in goals, but longterm business plans won’t work for your new web business. Be reactionary to your new customers wants and needs. Change will come quickly.

BONUS: Understand the process of building a website.
You have to understand the problem, plan the solution and execute. Your web agency is your partner, but they don’t know your business. Have your business structure in place, exploit your advantages and be ready to compete.