Prime Advertising & Design Blog

A Touch of Italy in Maple Grove, Minnesota

Leila — Fri, 03 May 2013 19:33:30 +0000

The idea of an Italian Import business has been something that the founder, Joseph Pietrafitta, has been thinking about for a number of years. His Italian heritage and the culture of his ancestors was very important to him, spurring his many trips to and from Italy. The craftsmanship and artistry of the Italian people attracted him and became a big part of his home in the United States. With this came the idea of bringing some of the beauty that Italy has to offer to the United States.

A product of Joseph Pietrafitta’s love of Italian artistry, Pietrafitta Imports was established in 2012 and launched its official website in February of 2013. The new e-commerce site was custom designed and built by the Twin Cities web design firm, Prime Advertising & Design, to feature the 1000+ imported Italian products available for purchase anywhere in the world. The many products offered by Pietrafitta Imports have been personally selected by Pietrafitta as he has traveled throughout the country. Handcrafted by artisans from the Amalfi Coast to Naples to the Tuscany region of Italy, they are all one of a kind with no two pieces alike. “I wanted it to feel like they were actually visiting Italy while they shopped,” says Roclyn, Prime’s graphic designer for the Pietrafitta project. “This was definitely one of my favorite design projects. Our goal was to create an upscale/classy feel that reflected the high quality of the products, which was done with a selection of elegant fonts and colors. We used a color palette reminiscent of the colors found in the beautiful artisan pieces such as oranges, yellows and greens.” The new site features multiple high quality images of each product, a simple, fluid check-out process for guests and a user-friendly e-commerce system for product inventory and order management.

Soon after the launch of the new website, the company opened its first store-front location in Maple Grove, Minnesota. The shop is teeming with beautiful handmade Italian goods, including hand-carved and hand-painted jewelry, artisan ceramics and pottery, specialty gift ideas and authentic Italian home décor. Stop by their Maple Grove location to view their large selection of Italian imports in person, or just to visit with them about their love for everything Italian!

Using YouTube and Video to Help Build your Brand

Allison — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:48:11 +0000

Did You Know:

YouTube is the second largest search engine, behind Google.
Your video on YouTube also has a 50% higher chance of showing up over text on Google.
Having a video on YouTube it is working for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

These are only a few reasons why creating video and publishing it YouTube can help grow your business’s online presence, and ultimately – revenues.

Prime’s social media team recently attended a webinar by YouTube expert James Wedmore, called “Creating an Unstoppable Brand on YouTube,” in which the power of YouTube was emphasized as a tool for businesses to create relationships and send more traffic to your website. According to the webinar these are some helpful hints to keep in mind when using YouTube and making videos for your brand:

1. Be Consistent

Post like your blog is a T.V show. T.V shows come on the same day every week. Although making weekly videos may not fit in your schedule, be consistent, if it is monthly than make sure to stick to it.

2. Provide Content that is Valuable to the Customer

Make videos that answer you customers’ questions or give them new information that maybe many people don’t know. Do research, look up to see what people are searching about in your industry. Also look at your competitors, are they creating videos, if so are they answering what customers want answered.

3. Optimized your Videos

Don’t just post your videos on YouTube, make sure they are optimized.

Have important keywords in the title.
Fill out the description as if it is a miniature blog, putting in those same keywords.
Add tags; the webinar suggests having 4 – 6 relevant tags.
Complete the transcript of the video. In the video, make sure to use the keywords you are trying to come up for. YouTube reads every transcript.

4. Create Quality Videos

The last piece of advice from the webinar is to have someone professionally produce your video. The quality of your videos reflects the professionalism of your business. If you post company videos that are shaky and poorly edited, users may assume a correlation between the poor quality of your videos and the quality of the services or products your company provides.

Here at Prime we offer Video Production Services. With Video there is so much that can be done; it’s not quite the same as the old cheesy T.V commercial from yesteryear. Prime’s video production services can put your business in the spotlight. Sight Sound and Motion create Emotion.

Our Video Production Services Include:

Pre-Production Planning which can include creative meetings, scripting services and production scheduling with project manager
Video Shoot at location of your choice
Post-Production Services including video editing, graphics, music and voiceover talent
Hardcopy Files including MOV. WMV and YouTube files

If you are interested in learning more about our video production services, please contact Lex Zwach, Prime’s Senior Marketing Consultant at 763.315.6439 or lex@primadvertising.com! www.primeadvertising.com.

Which Type of Posts Get Displayed in Feeds More? Understanding Facebook’s Algorithm

Leila — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:57:03 +0000

Plain text posts rule:

The most popular posts are short, friendly and conversational. Your text posts are more likely to be displayed to people right away and for a longer amount of time.

Links make stories less viral:

Although posting links to articles can help to share more information with fans and friends, Facebook’s exposure algorithm doesn’t seem to like the idea of making users work so hard (or encouraging them to stray from Facebook.com).

Images encouraged:

After plain text posts, images are the most exposed type of posts. A great way to help your new post gain exposure is to attach an image to it. This could be as simple as taking a screenshot of your post, or the article you are referencing, and including that image in your post. Keep in mind, the ideal dimensions of a fan page picture is 403 pixels by 403 pixels.

Comments are stronger than likes:

While likes are a great way to show popularity, Facebook’s ranking algorithm lends greater exposure to posts with comments. Encourage readers to reply and create a dialog by including phrases like, “What do you think?” or “Comment below with your own opinion!”

To read the full article posted by Daniel Sharkov, “5 Ways to Beat EdgeRank and Bring More Exposure to Your Facebook Page,” visit www.reviewzntips.com.

Want to read more? Below are some of the most recent articles about Facebook for Business:

How to Optimize Your Social Content for the Facebook Mobile App

Getting Started with Facebook Home

4 Facebook Advertising Updates you Must Know About

Let’s Spark Some Creative Energy! Ads That Inspire

Leila — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:52:39 +0000

It’s time to get excited about advertising! Here at Prime, we always say, “Sight, sound and motion create Emotion.” A good advertisement may make you think, laugh or shock you, but above all, it leaves you with a memory of the brand or product. The retrieval of that memory during a customer’s search process is what separates your brand or product from your competitors. Get inspired by the collection of wonderfully creative advertisements we’ve gathered below.

FedEx

Heinz – No one grows Ketchup like Heinz.

Clorets – Eliminate bad breath

The Fitness Company

WWF – Give a hand to wildlife

Australia Post – Personalize Your Post

FedEx Kinkos – Office Products

BBC World News – See both sides of the story

Fraich Frites – Granny’s Fries Without the Granny

Play-Doh – Safe no matter what you make

Nikon – Detects up to 12 faces

Yoga Center

3M Security Glass

Collection courtesy of Jim Strutzin, Smashing Apps, and Hongkiat Lim.

Google Analytics Markets Keyword Search Tracking in Lieu of “Not Provided” Issue

Leila — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 20:22:16 +0000

Need a good laugh? Google Analytics has released several comical YouTube videos, showing realistic depictions of everyday user experiences online. From the often frustrating online check-out process, to the confusing search engine searches we have all experienced.

Watch Google Analytics In Real Life – Online Checkout https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3Sk7cOqB9Dk

Watch Google Analytics In Real Life – Site Search https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cbtf1oyNg-8

Watch Google Analytics In Real Life – Landing Page Optimization https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=N5WurXNec7E

These videos have created a lot of buzz in the past few months. Despite Google’s call to “Discover what your customers are looking for” at the end of the “Site Search” video, most existing Google Analytics users are familiar with the “not provided” keyword result that represents the majority of the keyword search data logged in Google Analytics. For those of you who are not familiar with the “not provided” phenomenon, the graphic below is a screenshot of a typical Google Analytics report showing what keywords users searched to find your website:

Above, you can see that the majority of keywords searched to find this user’s website are located under the “not provided” category. About one year ago, Google announced that it would encrypt any search data of users that were engaging in Google Search while logged into their Google account (Gmail, Google+, etc). Encrypted searches represent the “not provided” category shown in Google Analytics. When the announcement was made, the “not provided” category only represented a small percentage (2%-10%) of the total keyword results in Google Analytics; however, sites are now seeing 50%-60% of keyword data “not provided.”

It is interesting to see Google Analytics putting such an emphasis on its users’ ability to view what customers are looking for, with so much important data unavailable through their services.

Have an opinion on this? Let us know what you think by commenting under this blog! Prime Advertising and Design offers web analytics, search engine optimization and social media services. Learn more at www.PrimeAdvertising.com.

What is Search Engine Optimization? SEO Explained Simply

Leila — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 13:00:09 +0000

Search Engine Optimization is a complex subject: a mixture of proven tactics, speculation and trial and error. We have stumbled upon this wonderful video that explains what Search Engine Optimization is in a simple way, that even the least internet and computer savvy readers can understand. Basically, when it comes to SEO and your website: Words matter, Page titles matter, Links matter, Words in links matter and Reputation matters. Watch “What Is Search Engine Optimization / SEO” explained by Common Craft here:

If you have questions about what you learned in this video and how it relates to your website, Prime Advertising can help, we are just an email or call (763-424-9406) away!

Official C.R.O.S.S Donation Drop-Off Location for Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park and Osseo Areas

Leila — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:51:08 +0000

Christmas is just around the corner and there are many local families in need of a helping hand. If you are located in the Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park or Osseo areas, stop by our office to drop off your donations today or tomorrow. Our office is open weekdays from 8:00am to 5:00pm. We are located at 7351 Kirkwood Lane North, Suite 144 in Maple Grove, MN. Call 763-424-9406 with questions!

A Special Thanks to Our Clients

Leila — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 21:36:20 +0000

As the weather turns cold and the snow starts to fall, holiday cards from our clients arrive in Prime’s mailbox. Traditionally, we hang each card at our front desk for everyone to enjoy. Even in early December, our collection has started to grow.

It’s these cards that remind us of the wonderful relationships, and even friendships, that we have had the opportunity to develop with our clients over the years. We truly enjoy helping all of our clients to grow and flourish as businesses and look forward to the successful marketing and advertising endeavors that are to come.

A special thanks to all of our cherished clients. We wish you and your families a warm and merry holiday season.

The Best (simple) Tips to Increase Blog Traffic

Leila — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 21:01:34 +0000

Be Shareworthy in 2012, 2013 and Beyond

For those of our readers who manage a company blog, we’ve found a great article with helpful tips for creating a “killer” business blog, titled “B2B Business Blogging – The Complete In-Depth Guide To Creating A Killer Blog,” from SimplyZesty.com.

An overview of the article:

“Despite different social media networks coming and going, one thing that always remains constant are blogs. The reasons are simple, they live on your own site, you control the content and they show up in search results. A good business blog is a place to communicate the latest news from your brand, drive business leads and to create content that gets shared far beyond your own blog.”

Social Media

To drive traffic to your blog, use your social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ to promote your new blog to your fans.

SEO

Having a good SEO strategy worked into your blog creation is an important aspect of promoting your blog. What words would people use if they wanted to find an article similar to yours? Use those words in your blog content and include them as tags. Use unique blog titles that sets your blog apart from the millions of other blogs on the internet. For those of our customers that have their most recent blog titles feeding onto their website, keep in mind that the title of your blog must be attention grabbing and encourage your site visitors to visit your blog, wanting to read more.

Businesses with Amazing Blogs

If you are ever looking for inspiration, consider how some of the most successful business blogs are communicating with their readers:

Zappos – Fashion, Style & Great Imagery

ComScore – Recent News, Reliable & Referenceable Research and Content

Southwest Airlines – Lighthearted and Easy to Read

Whole Foods – Lots of Tips and Recipes

The article is packed with useful tips for business blogging, including videos from leading bloggers. Read the full article “B2B Business Blogging – The Complete In-Depth Guide To Creating A Killer Blog,” from SimplyZesty.com here.

Prime Advertising has been providing the tools for excellence with our blog design and coaching services. For individualized tips on how to increase your blog traffic, schedule a blog coaching session by contacting Leila@primeadvertising.com.

Google for Business: Why your business should have a Google+ Local Page

Leila — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:05:14 +0000

When a user searches for a local service, product or business, most times Google displays local business listings towards the top of the first page of results. Say for example, we searched “Advertising in Maple Grove.” Google now lists the local listings below the paid advertising, but above the organic search results. This means that your local business has a very good chance at being on the first page in local search results, in the form of a Google local listing. Users are then able to click on the little pin symbol next to an address to view a company’s local place page.

In recent months, Google has transitioned its local place pages into Google+ Local pages.

What does this mean?

It means that these local listings that appear in Google searches are now much more than a static local listing for your business. Before this transition, these place pages offered an area to list basic company information such as a phone number, address, a short 200 character limited business description, services and products, links and up to 10 photos and 5 videos. Now, businesses have the opportunity to share an unlimited amount of company information, which includes an introduction area with a seemingly unlimited character limit, an area to create public photo and video albums and a “wall” to share company updates and messages with the public.

Suddenly, a user searching for “Advertising in Maple Grove” is able to read reviews on local advertising agencies, view photos, see how these companies interact with the public through their Google+ profile, post questions, comments and reviews for these business, read company updates, view contact information, follow links to company websites and so much more.

Here is the difference between a Google+ Listing that has not been claimed and optimized with information and one that has:

According to Google, about 20% of Google searches are local and 40% of searches on mobile devices are local. With over 3 billion searches on Google each day, this platform of online presence for your company should not be overlooked. Don’t let this opportunity to market your business, increase brand awareness and generate leads go to waste!

How to create your Google+ Local Page:

You will need to create a personal Google+ profile, and then create a “Page” for your local business. If you had previously created a Google Place Page, this new Google+ local business page will automatically replace your old local place page as soon as the verification process is completed.

Need help getting your Google+ Local page up and running? Prime Advertising would be happy to assist! Contact us directly. For the future, perhaps a step by step blog tutorial is in order. Let us know if you’d like one!