Author: southernviewmedia

One of the main components of branding a business is the logo design. Logos help your customers identify your business and they help you build brand awareness. It’s important to have a logo that is professionally designed, fits your business and is memorable. 

Most people know what logos are and why they are important, but they don’t fully grasp the importance of logo design or understand what makes them successful. Knowing the basics will help you make more informed decisions about the logo for your business, so here are a few of the most commonly asked questions about logos. 

Why is Having a Logo Important?

Having a logo is critical for branding purposes, especially branding online. If you look at any well known company, they will have their logo front and center on every piece of material and every relevant platform. Logos are used on social media, flyers, brochures, websites, business cards and just about any other business marketing material you can think of.

Your logo acts as a visual representation of your brand. Studies show that people remember about 80% of what they see, but only retain about 20% long term. This is because the human brain is wired for visuals. When people see your logo they will be more likely to remember your brand and what you do. If you have no logo, you are just making it harder for people to build and maintain brand recognition.

Why is Logo Design Important?

Making a good first impression is the key to lasting business. That is why having a well-designed logo can lead to more long-term success for your business. Your logo is customers’ first glimpse at your business and what you do. A poorly designed or confusing logo could lead to a loss in customers before you even get to show them what your business is about. 

What Makes a Well Designed Logo?

Good logos are simple, legible, unique and fit the business they are representing. Having an overly complicated or detailed logo can lead to issues with sizing and usability. A logo that’s hard to read or hard to see can also be a problem when it comes to sizing and recognition. Your logo should be unique so people can remember it better, and it should fit your business and industry. 

How Many Fonts & Colors Should Be Used?

It’s best to stick to 1-2 fonts on your logo and a limited color palette. It’s also important to make sure your logo can be turned black and white while still retaining the same messaging and design as it would in color. For more specific information on professional logo design, contact our team to discuss your options. 

How Often Should I Change/Rebrand My Logo?

When choosing a logo, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a lifetime commitment. You can rebrand or change your logo over time. You may choose to simplify your logo as your brand becomes more well known, or you might adjust your logo if your business changes. That being said, you should start with a logo design you can use for as long as possible to keep brand recognition. 

Having a professional, aesthetically pleasing logo is critical to your business’ success. It helps represent your brand and adds a face for when someone is looking for your business online. Southern View Media has a team of creative professionals ready to help you create a logo that defines your vision for your business. Contact us today, so we can put you online so you don’t get left behind!

If you’re considering advertising online for your business, you might have seen display ads as one of the options. If you’re unfamiliar with display ads, you might be wondering what exactly they are, how they work, what benefit they could be to your business and if they are a good option for reaching your desired demographic. 

What Are Digital Display Ads?

If you spend time online, chances are you’ve actually seen digital display ads. These are the ads that appear on the side or the bottom of apps and websites. They are usually targeted towards your shopping and browsing habits, and you may even see the same ads across multiple websites. So the same way that you see personalized ads while browsing the web or using a mobile app, is how your potential customers will see your business advertised. 

How Do Digital Display Ads Work?

Most digital display ads are part of campaigns from ad networks. These networks have agreements with websites and apps that allow them to display their ads there. The ads are populated through your online habits, which means that when a potential customer clicks on a page with display ads, a bidding process begins for who will get to advertise to them. The advertisers have their ads loaded and ready to go if their ad wins the bid. 

The ads are based on things like location, user demographics and online habits. This information is gathered over time by online search engines to help customize the user experience and provide the most relevant ads. So by the time the website loads, the winning ad has already been put in place for the potential customer to see.  

Why Are Digital Display Ads a Good Advertising Choice? 

Digital display ads are a popular choice for advertising because they work. They help build brand awareness and they are able to target specific demographics in a way that other ads are not. You can target your digital display ads based on things like gender, location, age range, income, likes, hobbies and other qualifiers. This targeting helps your business advertise only to those who are most likely to convert into a customer.

Are Digital Display Ads Right for My Business?

Digital display ads work for all types of businesses, but how do you know if they are right for your business? Well if you know a little about your customers, and want to get your business name out there you’re all set. Digital display ads are low cost per thousand impressions, which means that you can spread awareness of your brand to a large audience on a modest budget. 
With the help of Southern View Media, your business can begin creating impactful ads that help to drive customers, spread information and grow brand awareness. Our team can provide you with a custom proposal showing estimates for the area of your choosing to give you a better idea of how digital display ads might work for you. We can also provide estimated traffic and help conduct the research needed to help your digital display ads be as successful as possible.

THE CLIENT

A plumbing service located in Harahan, Louisiana, Mudbug Plumbing & Remodeling specializes in everything from drain cleaning to pipe repair and replacement. Plumbing services are one industry that are certainly not few and far between; however, quantity does not equal quality! Mudbug is a true example of high-quality service, and with such a wide variety of competitors, they were in need of a streamlined and well-branded website to match.

THE WEBSITE

After our initial meetings with the client to discuss their desired direction, our designers began creating a mockup using Adobe XD. Once the client had approved of the initial design, the development of the site began while secondary pages were being created. The intentional stacking of development with secondary page designs allows for efficient and informed design choices to be made while the actual site begins to emerge. A heavy emphasis was placed on informing the audience about the services Mudbug is known for, as well as why they should choose Mudbug over their competitors. 

Another area of emphasis was placed on branding. An established brand deserves a site that reflects brand guidelines through typography, color choices and imagery.

THE RESULTS

A final look at the site exemplifies the clean, sleek design that not only looks pleasing, but also reflects the brand it represents. Make sure you check out the finished site at https://mudbugplumbing.com/. 

Whether you begin your commute, embark on a road-trip or take a quick drive to the gas station, there is a high chance that the radio will be playing. According to News Generation, more than 244.5 million Americans listen to the radio each month. However, upon sliding into the driver’s seat, when have you considered the individuals behind the broadcast waves?

92ZEW is a locally-owned and operated radio station in Mobile, Alabama. Household names for the radio station include Gene Murrell, Kelly Finley, Tony in the Morning, Matt McCoy and more. Matt McCoy currently serves as the Promotions and Marketing Director with 92ZEW, but his impact includes a 30-year career, philanthropic efforts and an overall optimistic zeal for life.

Much like anything else in McCoy’s career, he fell into radio by happy accident.

A local radio DJ discovered 17-year-old McCoy on his high school forensics team. That part-time gig was the catalyst for an extensive career in radio. McCoy admitted that he ended up on the Gulf Coast by accident when he accepted a job offer with Legendary Top 40 WABB. Instantly welcomed as a Gulf Coast personality, McCoy hosted the morning show for seven to eight years.

“Things changed. I’ve got a couple of kids. I knew I had to decide on a ‘real job,’” McCoy said in a phone interview with a dash of self-deprecating humor. “Just like the rest of my life, I got a random call from Pensacola.”

McCoy accepted a job offer with iHeartRadio Kiss FM. After another eight years and a meet-cute with Tim and Lee Ann Camp of “TLC in the Morning”, McCoy became Promotions and Marketing Director with 92ZEW.

“You feel like you know these people. They’re your friends. I’ve been doing this for 30 years and I tell people–it’s the painting the room scenario. You have a playlist on, but it’s hollow and empty. Instead, the radio is a voice in your ear. You feel like a friend is talking to you,” McCoy explained.

Outside of radio and his children, McCoy pursues two philanthropic efforts: rescuing animals and helping to defeat cancer. McCoy has two rescued pitbulls, but defeating cancer remains his true passion.

“I’ve lost so many people just over the past 5 years to cancer. I’m just sick of it,” McCoy said. “Every year, I help do Bras Across the Causeway. Last year, it was so big that we ran out of space for attendees–during COVID!”

McCoy also recently signed up as an ambassador for the American Cancer Society.

When asked if he had any advice for individuals struggling to find their way, McCoy laughed and said, “I have a mission statement, and believe it or not, I got it from a country song and I added to it over the years:

‘Life is a dance and you learn as you go. But just like the tango, if you get tangled up, and you will, don’t panic. Tango on.’”

92ZEW is more than just voices in your ear. 92ZEW is a locally owned and operated radio station. Learn more about The Sound of Mobile by visiting https://92zew.net/contact/ today.

Interested in being highlighted in a Toast to the Coast article? Reach out to Southern View Media today!

The world of e-commerce has boomed more than ever given the circumstances that have surrounded us in these last few years. Despite the stock market crash, investors have since taken advantage of shares for trillion dollar e-commerce companies like Amazon. What exactly is an e-commerce site you might ask and what are the advantages that come with it? We talk about it here. 

Electronic Business via World Wide Web

Long gone are the days where brick and mortar stores became popular. Of course, there is still talk about pop-up shops for upcoming trendy boutiques and retailers that work for business to consumers and business to business e-commerce platforms. The idea of exchanging physical goods and services has since evolved into an electronic business via the world wide web, which is what an e-commerce site resembles. Consumers, sellers and businesses can all come together in one place to electronically transfer data and funds. 

Marketing Strategy In The Works

Having an e-commerce site can ultimately grow your business as there is a great deal for a marketing strategy in the works. There is a lot of background work that goes into developing it such as setting up optimization, the use of plug-ins, email newsletter sign up forms, landing pages and much more. E-commerce sites are also a highly competitive field, so having a marketing strategy in place further sets you up for success.

Building The Site and Legal Terms 

There are many built-in software programs that support full customization on online shops. Each e-commerce owner will have a set budget on their behalf which will dictate the overall design and style of the site, the added plug-ins necessary to develop data and making files downloadable. WordPress and Shopify are amongst the most popular platforms that make it easier to navigate through the site with a paid fee. An e-commerce site will also be required to have legal terms that go by code to include a private policy, terms and conditions, as well as disclaimers. The legal terms act as a legal policy to disclose information towards customers and their personal data. Whether or not you choose to add cookies, a third party disclosure is also an option. 

Incorporating Digitally Innovative Tactics

Outside of the e-commerce site, there exists digitally innovative tactics to incorporate traffic through the use of social media. To better promote the site, entrepreneurs and influencers use marketing strategies such as posting ads, setting up product launches through email campaigns and creating mobile apps for user-friendly accessibility. The integration between the development of the e-commerce site and the use of external digital marketing methods all correlate towards a better brand advantage.  

Let us help you make your business successful with website design and development, a part of the e-commerce site process. For a free consultation to formulate a strategic and affordable plan, call us today at 251-583-2605 or visit www.southernviewmedia.com. We are a Google Trusted Agency and will be happy to answer your questions.

The internet is here to stay, and if your business hasn’t found its place online yet, it’s time to start considering it. If you’re looking to have an online presence for your business, you might be wondering what your options are. There are a lot of ways a business can promote themselves and connect with customers online. Two of the most popular options are websites and landing pages, but what is the difference between the two and which one is best for your business?

Website

You’re most likely pretty familiar with websites already and have visited them for your favorite brands and businesses. Websites are multi-level online systems that can provide a variety of functions to customers. Depending on what type of business or brand you have, you might want to use your website to provide information to customers, gather contact information, sell products or services online or book appointments. Regardless of what type of business you have, a website can be a very helpful and necessary tool to grow your business. 

Landing Page

Now that we’ve covered websites, you might be wondering what a landing page is. A landing page often looks very much like a website, but it is limited. Landing pages are typically a single page that provides some sort of information like links, contact information, directions or service hours. A landing page is intended to convey information to the customer but not be their end destination. Landing pages are meant to drive them to other websites, in-person storefronts/offices or urge them to contact your business in some manner. 

Goals & Growth

When deciding between a website and a landing page, the big decision comes down to your goals and the opportunity for growth. If you want to offer products or services for sale via the internet, you will need a website. If you simply want to let people know where they can shop your products or how to get to your location you might only need a landing page.

Websites give your business room for growth in the online space. You can add more content to your website as your business grows and have a one-stop shop for that content to live. With a landing page, you’re limited to the amount of information you can provide and the ability to expand your online presence without the use of a website. 

Cost & Maintenance Difference 

Creating, designing and maintaining a website is more costly, but ultimately it is a tool you can use to grow your business and hopefully increase revenue. Landing pages are a smaller commitment of time and money as they don’t need as much updating or maintenance, but they can only help your business grow so far. 

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Trying to decide how to present your business or brand online? Contact Southern View Media today! From websites to social media marketing and everything in between we can be your full-service digital marketing agency. Our talented team can help your business grow from the ground up!

Did you know that the average household has at least 30 separate promotional products in it at any given time? Think about it – do you have cups in the cabinet that bear the name of a local business? Do you have pens given to you from your favorite insurance agent? A promotional product is cost-effective advertising for any business, and is very useful for the average consumer. 

Pelican Promos, LLC. is a local business that caters to the entire Gulf Coast (and beyond!). This successful business just turned 1 year old under the leadership of Kayla Murray. She currently serves as the Director of Promotional Products for the company.

“We have embraced the Gulf by maintaining a Coastal theme in everything we do,” Murray said in an interview. “We also work day and night to ensure our clients are getting high-quality, low-cost items with low minimum quantities. We understand that small businesses want to represent themselves in the best way possible, and that most of the time, they are dealing with a limited budget. We work with them to determine which promo items best match their marketing goals and make the most out of their advertising dollars.”

Pelican Promos does not function just as a producer of promotional materials. The company also takes pride in serving the Gulf Coast community by partaking in several volunteer activities and organizations. Pelican Promos currently works with Bras for a Cause, and also co-hosted the 2021 Eastern Shore Business Expo back in May earlier this year. Bras for a Cause is a non-profit dedicated to raising funds for local breast cancer patients; the Eastern Shore Business Expo is an annual fun networking event.

When asked why the average business owner should choose Pelican Promos, Murray responded: “Our passion for what we do and the meaning behind it surpasses many in our industry. We welcome all of our clients like they are family.”

Let Pelican Promos help you scoop up the competition with high-quality promotional products and friendly customer service!

When it comes to running a business, we understand that you have enough on your plate. While your daily operations may begin at 8 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., your business in the online world doesn’t stop. At least, it won’t if you are utilizing SEO tips to the best of your abilities to keep advertising your business. That’s why we’ve come up with a list of easy SEO tips to keep building your brand and business while you’re offline… Or at least while you’re working your business!

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization and can really make or break your business. We’re now living in a world where online updates, standards and changes never stop. Staying updated on strategies and methods you can use to optimize your SEO is absolutely critical to staying ahead of the game.

1. Optimize your social media.

Social media platforms are an incredibly powerful tool when promoting your business. It’s easy to create a post and share it here and there, but it’s impressive when you can optimize your social media to your benefit. This can include taking keyword research (that’s another blog to read about) and distinguishing what keywords provide the best description of your business and what product or service you’re selling. Social media can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be when you have the right approach. 

2. Claim your Google My Business.

This tip is one of the easiest things you can do as a business owner. Not only is the platform free, but it’s an affordable way to market your business. Google My Business actually helps you show up online, like being on the first page compared to the second or third page. Using this tip to your benefit can help make your business more discoverable and more likely to help improve your local SEO. Even if your business has already established an online presence, claiming your Google My Business listing will aid in receiving top results.

3. Make sure alt tags are added to all images.

Have you ever seen a graphic or photo that has trouble downloading on a website? It may have had words or phrases in place of it. That’s where your alt tags come into play. An HTML attribute used on image tags helps provide an alternative in text copy for search engines. By applying alt tags to images, you can positively impact your business’s search engine rankings. Basically what this means is that search engines read like we do, resulting in search engines deciding how images interpret a web page and where that web page should stand on Google rankings.

4. Make sure title tags and meta descriptions are set with the keywords you’re trying to target.

When it comes to title tags and meta descriptions, there are two things to keep in mind: You need to understand how your customer thinks and how Google as a search engine “thinks”. Each search on Google delivers different results, depending on what phrase or word is typed in. Title tags need to be optimized to include your prime keywords for your business, and the same goes for your meta descriptions that go directly under the title tag. These meta descriptions are what is going to help incline an audience to want to click through to your site. Each of these title tags and meta descriptions should be unique to each page that it’s displaying. Improving these two things can easily move your business forward in the right direction to solidify your SEO strategy.

SEO changed the online game tremendously, and as a business owner, it’s your job to play the game well to continue making moves. Staying updated on standards of keeping your business online is critical to your success. Southern View Media has a team of professionals ready to craft your business a winning SEO strategy to keep you online so you don’t get left behind. Contact us today!

There are many different events that compose the cultural cornerstone of the Gulf Coast: Mardi Gras, Hangout Fest, Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo and, of course, the Greater Gulf State Fair in Mobile, Alabama. But what about the individuals behind the scenes? What would these memories be without them?

Join Southern View Media as we raise a celebratory toast to Josh Woods, the executive director for the Greater Gulf State Fair and The Grounds!

An Alabama local, Josh Woods was born and raised in Grand Bay, Alabama. He graduated from the University of South Alabama with a degree in finance. Before curating memories at the fairgrounds, however, Josh worked at BB&T. He began as a relationship teller and, in 10 years, left the bank as a commercial credit underwriter and vice president. But how did Josh make the leap from finance to the Greater Gulf State Fair?

His answer lies in the fact that he served with the Mobile Jaycees.

The Mobile Junior Chamber of Commerce, also known as Mobile Jaycees, is a nonprofit organization for young professionals. Members can participate in different boards. The Mobile Jaycees is also the parent organization of the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo (ADSFR), the Azalea Trail Maids and the Greater Gulf State Fair. Josh served on the board of directors before assuming the position of executive director in 2016.

“It is the best job I’ve ever had,” Josh said. “Every day is different. You might have a reptile show one day and then you have a market style day the next.”

A family man with sons and a wife, Josh understands how much the fair means to families along the Gulf Coast.

“I have three boys and my favorite memory [with this job] is watching my 6 and 3-years-old sons have their first experience of the fair,” Josh said, smiling. 

Learn more about the Greater Gulf State Fair by visiting www.greatergulfstatefair.com! You can also find the Mobile Jaycees on Facebook.