The team at High Rock is pleased to announce that Lovell’s Nursery, Inc has launched a new LeftBrain® website! Lovell’s is one of our first websites using a responsive design (check them out on mobile!).

Lovell’s Nursery is a full service Garden Center and landscape installation contractor. Lovell’s services have received acclaim in several local publications, including “Best Landscaping Company” by Hagerstown Magazine. As a third-generation family business that began in 1970, their goal is to continue providing excellent service and gardening products that help keep the tri-state area looking beautiful.

To see their new website, and learn more about Lovell’s Nursery, visit www.lovellsnursery.com!

1. What is social media?
2. Do I have to do it for my business?
3. What is my ROI?

As you think about these topics, remember that the power of social media is – at its core – conversation. Take a deep breath and start a conversation that you enjoy.

To begin, take a look at this video.  You’ll see important information, fast.  Many of you might remember it from our 2013 High Rock Marketing Summit, presented by Jennifer Hampton (CEO, Superior Virtual).

What is social media? 

After watching the video, social media appears to be an overwhelming turbulent sea of ever-changing technologies and conflicting information. While this is true, its power resides in simplicities.  It’s a conversation.

Social Media is powerless without people who start a topic, listen, and respond.

Do I have to do it? 

No, but you do not “have” to wear shoes either. A better question might be “Which social media should I do for my business?”.

Three reasons you should dive into social media for your business:

1. Social Media helps direct people back to your website, which increases your potential customer base and specifically aids your Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

2.  Capitalize on what people are already saying about your business.

True Sob Story from a client:

Our client refused to have a Facebook page, until a customer said, “My friend on Facebook came in here last weekend!  She said you had new stuff so I had to drop by.” Because our client’s business was not on Facebook, the post did not easily link to his business page.

3. Word of Mouth

Most of you realize that the word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool because of trust.  Generally, you trust a friend’s recommendation.  Coined by Eric Qualman, “‘Socialnomics’ is social media on steroids.”  You don’t have to physically be near someone to tell them, and you can tell hundreds of people instantly.

What is my ROI?  

The best return on your investment is the availability of another platform to communicate your brand and message.  The seemingly twittery babble of social media increases emotional loyalty to your brand.  (But no one really wants twittery babble, so write to entertain. Have fun! Be passionate! Be personal!)

However uncommon, immediate monetary ROI is not unheard of. On Friday, our client posted a set of photos chronicling brand new glass sculptures in her store. Saturday afternoon, someone came in specifically to buy two, because she saw them on Facebook. Generally, brand loyalty is the return on investment with social media, but monetary return is possible.

Whenever social media seems overwhelming, start small. Just take a picture of a cool thing you did at work today, or a new product, and put it up on the web. Once you’re ready to take it a step further, snap a picture and write a few sentences about it on your blog. Now when you post the photo to Facebook, link to this blog article.  You not only interacted with your customers, but you increased your website’s SEO.  All you have to do is start the conversation.

Our future articles will help you understand specific social media principles and hone your online strategy.  Look forward to “the Anatomy of a Good Post,” and “What the heck is Pinterest and should I have one?”  We’ll help you discover if what you’re doing is right for you.

References
EconomistMagazine. “Social Media in 2013.” YouTube. <<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTXxVXijHx0>>. December 28, 2012.
Perrin, James. “Copywriting Tips: Writing for Social Media.” Koozai. <<http://www.koozai.com/blog/social-media/copywriting-tips-writing-for-social-media/>> January 20th, 2012. Note: Dated article, yet pertinent information.
Smiciklas, Mark. “Social Media ROI.” Instersection Consulting Ltd. <<http://www.intersectionconsulting.com/2009/social-media-roi/>> May 25, 2009.
Qualman, Eric. “Social Media Video 2013.” Youtube. <<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUCfFcchw1w>>. November 7, 2012.

The team at High Rock is pleased to announce that The Wells House, Inc. has launched a new LeftBrain® website!

Wells House Incorporated was founded in 1976 as a private, nonprofit charity that operated as a halfway house for local homeless alcoholic men. In the thirty-six years since its founding, the program’s mission has expanded to not only provide evidence-based behavioral health treatment services, but ancillary services that address all aspects of rehabilitating men back into the community as productive members of society.

To learn more, and see their new website, visit www.wellshouse.org!

“We built LeftBrain® with your budget in mind, but we leverage the years of experience at High Rock to offer a cutting edge website solution that looks great and produces results… so it’s the best of both worlds.” – Rich Daughtridge, Founder and President, High Rock

All attendees will be entered for a chance to win a FREE $1,000 ad package with What’s NXT that day and all attendees receive a FREE movie ticket to Leitersburg Cinemas for the weekend of Friday, April 26 – Sunday, April 28! Lunch and refreshments will be provided during the demo in the VIP theater at Leitersburg Cinemas.

Seats are limited, so register for the LeftBrain Workshop & Demo at leftbrainapril2013.eventbrite.com.

The team at High Rock is pleased to announce that Cedar Ridge Ministries has launched a new LeftBrain® website! This website will be dedicated to their fundraising event, The Big Hike.

To raise awareness and funds for troubled and at-risk youth at Cedar Ridge Ministries, Luke Badley is hiking the Appalachian Trail. His journey began in March 2013 in Springer Mountain, Georgia and will end 2,180 miles later in Mt. Katahdin, Maine this August. The LeftBrain® website will be used to track Luke’s progress, and raise funds for Cedar Ridge.

To learn more, and see their new website, visit www.thebighike2013.org!

The team at High Rock is pleased to announce that Carroll Business Path has launched a new LeftBrain® website!

The Carroll Business Path in Westminster, MD is designed to help you start your small business or expand an existing one. Take advantage of what the Carroll Business Path has to offer by signing up to meet your personal “Navigator”.

To learn more about the Carroll Business Path, and to check out their new LeftBrain® website, visit carrollbusinesspath.com.

The Hagerstown Pregnancy Center offers medical services that include pregnancy tests, limited ultrasound, pregnancy options counseling and referrals for further medical care to girls, women and families facing an unplanned pregnancy.

To learn more about HAPC’s mission and services, visit hapconline.com!

AgVenture is part of an emerging group of ag retailers who are providing a clear vision for how decision agriculture can safeguard the environment while boosting profits. HighQ harnesses the power of technology to provide growers with actionable information that enables them to make more profitable, environmentally sound decisions. By maximizing yields and generating the profits growers need to remain successful, HighQ helps ensure that agricultural land stays agricultural land.

Visit the new HighQ website at www.decisionagriculture.com!

The team at High Rock is constantly looking for new and better ways to improve the LeftBrain® solution. Based on client and prospective client feedback, the addition of LeftBrain® Lite will include strategic content to ensure maximum usability for both small businesses and their patrons.

Geared towards businesses in need of a simplified, yet effective online presence, LeftBrain® Lite will also remain focused on High Rock’s “5 Pillars” of an effective website: professional design, social media integration, mobile compatibility, search engine optimization, and a content management system that offers all of the tools needed to keep their website powerful and up-to-date.

“Over the past year, it’s rewarding to see nearly 100 websites launched on the LeftBrain® platform. The new LeftBrain® Lite option offers a new, lower price point, but with the same solid foundation.”
– Rich Daughtridge, Founder and President of High Rock

With 100 satisfied LeftBrain® customers, High Rock is confident that this solution will make LeftBrain® more accessible for small businesses and non-profit organizations.

Join High Rock for lunch to hear a presentation from Founder and President, Rich Daughtridge, and LeftBrain® Project Manager, Kristen Grove. This is a fun, interactive workshop where you’ll learn the fundamentals of how to build a successful website and see how LeftBrain® may be a good fit for your small business or non-profit organization. All attendees will be entered for a chance to win a FREE iPad that day and all attendees receive a FREE movie ticket to Leitersburg Cinemas for the weekend of Friday, October 26 – Sunday October 28! Lunch and refreshments will be provided during the demo in the VIP theater at Leitersburg Cinemas.

To register for the final LeftBrain® Workshop and Demo in 2012, visit highrockstudios.com/VIP .

For more information on LeftBrain® and LeftBrain® Lite, please contact Ken Garber at ken@highrockstudios.com or by phone at 301-791-1221.

On Friday, September 21, High Rock held its long-running LeftBrain® marketing and web design workshop for the first time in Carroll County, Maryland. Hosted at the beautifully renovated Carroll Arts Center and sponsored by Valpak and Citybizlist Baltimore, the free event drew a solid crowd of local business owners and agencies.

Following lunch and introductions, the workshop opened with a brief presentation by Valpak’s Westminster representative. High Rock President Rich Daughtridge and LeftBrain® Project Manager Kristen Grove then moved into a discussion of web design, the LeftBrain® content management system, social media integration, search engine marketing and mobile compatibility.

The demonstration led to a lively Q&A that covered topics like keyword selection through Google AdWords, developing the proper type of content, LeftBrain® features like the photo editing plug-in, responsive design, and more.

“We were thrilled with the attendance and participation from the audience, which included some of High Rock’s valued clients as well as a number of new faces,” said Grove. “In particular, the excitement about LeftBrain’s in-development responsive design capabilities showed that the business community here is thinking ahead.”

The event wrapped with High Rock’s customary iPad® giveaway prize drawing, along with an additional winner of an Outback Steakhouse gift card from Valpak.

“We couldn’t have done it without the help of Valpak’s General Sales Manager, Shelley Collins, along with Jennifer Heinlein and Jay Rickey of Citybizlist,” noted Daughtridge, “not to mention the incredible team and gorgeous facility at Carroll Arts Center.”

As a result of the continued success of the workshop series, High Rock is planning yet another expansion, this time into Howard County, with the event currently slated for November. In the meantime, registration has already begun for October’s free LeftBrain® Workshop and Demo in Hagerstown. Those interested in attending can sign up here.