Jan

22

At Metro Studios, we know how important family is – especially during the holidays. That’s why Metro Studios teamed up with Avnet Inc. to connect families with their loved ones serving in the U.S. military overseas.

How did we make it possible? In December, we helped families record free five minute video messages. We were more than happy to provide professional video equipment and assist in recording, complete with proper lighting and sound quality to help families create an ideal video message.

“It just means so much more when you can see someone, even though we can’t feel each other, hug each other and touch each other, but it just means a lot that they did this for us,” said Alisha Holland.

Holland’s husband is stationed in Taji, Iraq, and this is the first time he missed spending Christmas with his wife and two sons.

“It was such an honor to be part of delivering words of love and encouragement to servicemen and women from their families and we hope to continue this tradition for years to come.” said Lisa Ellis, Vice President of Business Development at Metro Studios.

Each family received a DVD at the time of the recording, and we also provided families with their own personal link to share with an overseas family member over the Internet. We truly enjoyed partnering with Avnet Inc. for this great project, and were proud to have a small part in bringing military families a little closer during the holidays.

Jul

17

Zimmerman Ford: From whiteboard to widescreen

July 17, 2009 | Leave a Comment | Written by Lindsay Talsness

If you walk into a conference room at Metro Studios, you’re bound to find a whiteboard filled to the brim with words, ideas, and images.  After all, they say creative minds are rarely tidy.

This spring, our creativity and our whiteboard was put to work for Mark Zimmerman Ford-Hyundai-Mitsubishi-BMW.  Mark Zimmerman approached us looking for new branding for his dealership from a fresh, outside perspective.

We started our work with research. Not with market statistics and car model numbers, but with real people. We spent time listening to people share what they liked and disliked about their experiences with car dealerships.   Then we took that information and started brainstorming.

Read more

Jul

17

An insider’s guide to media buying

July 17, 2009 | Leave a Comment | Written by Kendra Smith

Interested in advertising on TV, but have no idea where to start? Here’s a quick guide to the art of “media buying” -  purchasing ad space on specific stations during a specific time period.

Determine your target demographic.
The first step is to determine who your target demographic is. You will want to choose different stations, programming, and day parts based on the target demographic you are trying to reach. It is common to have both a primary and secondary target demographic. For example, your primary demographic may be Women 35-54, and your secondary may be Adults (or Persons) 35-54.

Decide on your objectives.
After you have determined your target demographic, decide on your media objectives. This usually involves meeting a certain average Cost Per Point for your entire buy, or achieving a certain number of Gross Rating Points. What does all of this media speak mean? Let’s start with rating points:

Read more

Jun

12

Meeting and Event Best Practices

June 12, 2009 | 1 Comment | Written by Lindsay Talsness

For some people, the thought of planning a meeting or event can be daunting. Here are four helpful recommendations to make planning your next meeting or event easier and more organized.

1. Ask why. As in, why are we holding this event? What are the outcomes we desire? With your overall goals as the primary focus, the rest of the event will take shape more easily.

2. Determine who, what, where, when, and how.

3. Use the Web to your advantage. Today, the web enables you to plan your event smarter using Internet tools for registration, collecting fees, managing assets, event promotion and post-event wrap-ups.

According to Meetings and Conventions magazine, “Among those who have used such sites for meeting planning purposes, Facebook is the most popular (74 percent), followed by LinkedIn (66 percent) and Twitter (56 percent). More than one-third (36 percent) have launched a blog to market events.”

Event planners frequently use the web to post meeting information, register participants, collect fees, post event photos and presentations and add sponsorship value to their events.

4. Choose to work with professionals who have expertise in all the areas required to support your event. Work with a team who will understand your objectives, strategically and creatively plan your event, and can provide full support – from custom media solutions to whatever technical requirements you may have. Professionals take care of details and provide seamless production services that make for a flawless, memorable event.

At Metro Studios, we’re ready to help you plan your next event – and we have the technical and creative resources to provide you with a comprehensive solution from start to finish.

Additional Resources – You are Not Alone:

Jun

11

Photo Journal: On the road with Metro Studios

June 11, 2009 | Leave a Comment | Written by Lindsay Talsness

It’s been a busy, exciting few months at Metro Studios! Here’s a quick look at some projects we’ve recently been working on.

ACE Awards Live Webcast

We had a great time producing the ACE Awards Live Webcast for hundreds of in-person and online viewers.


Scottsdale Community College

Scottsdale Community College’s Department of Culinary Arts asked us to shoot a series of promotional videos for their program. We learned the secrets of making those cool vegetable garnishes, filleting a huge salmon, frosting a fancy cake… the chefs and students didn’t have to ask us twice to sample their creations!


Kirk shooting a close-up for petit-fours, when he wasn’t busy thinking up food puns.


Getting volunteer diners was a piece of cake!


The Grill Toppers Photo and Video Shoot

What a week it was when Metro Studios took on The Grill Toppers project. Our facility was transformed into the ultimate grilling event, complete with dozens of pounds of meat, countless side dishes, as well as numerous place settings to match all of the NCAA team colors. After getting our product shots, we took the gear, food, and props on the road to several different locations.


Donna, our food stylist extraordinaire, lends her expertise, while Susan, our art director, drops in the lemons “just right.”


Connie, Metro’s senior writer/producer, dresses the set. By the time we finished each shot, the food had been sprayed, glued, and was completely inedible.


Our newest “intern” samples some extra prop food and lends morale support during the shoot while her dad, Aaron, takes care of the video editing.


Kendra, Metro’s project coordinator, directs one of the actors on his grilling technique.



With the photos and videos completed, we are looking forward to building The Grill Toppers website this summer.

Commercial Shoot with Wisconsin Football Coach Bret Bielema

Bret Bielema, head coach for the University of Wisconsin football team was the star of our recent commercial shoot at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. I wonder if the Big 10 schedule came up in conversation?




Metro Studios’ Social Media Seminar

John Whaley, our Director of Internet Marketing spent a day with Phoenix business professionals teaching them how to grow their businesses through social media marketing.


Whew! As you can see, it’s been a whirlwind spring - but it was spent doing what we enjoy most - providing our clients with effective, innovative solutions.  Like what you see? Please contact us if you’re interested in learning more about the solutions we can provide for your business.

To see more photos of Metro Studios projects, visit our Flickr photostream.

May

18

9 Easy Ways to Write an Outstanding Blog Post

May 18, 2009 | 1 Comment | Written by Lindsay Talsness

Blogging can be easy, enjoyable, AND increase your business - if you do it the right way.

Here are 9 easy ways to dramatically improve your blog.

1. Write articles that readers will benefit from.

For example, Kraft Foods doesn’t write articles for their website entitled, “Buy more Kraft Foods products”. Instead, they post simple, delicious recipes1 that use Kraft ingredients.

If your blog articles are informative and helpful, instead of a direct sales pitch, more people will visit and revisit your blog.

Additional benefit: Writing informative articles builds your reputation as being an expert in your field.

2. Keep it short and focused.

According to research by Nielson Online2, Americans spend an average of 56 seconds on a webpage. Taking into consideration that the average person reads about 300 words per minute, I recommend blog articles be 250 - 500 words in length.

3. Watch your paragraph length.

Have you attempted to read extremely long paragraphs online? It’s difficult.

In fact, eye-tracking studies show that online readers tend to skip large blocks of text. It’s visually overwhelming for readers to see long paragraphs online, so break them up into shorter ones.

4. Use bullet points when providing a series of information.

Bullet points:

5. Provide detailed subtitles throughout the article.

This technique helps draw readers into paragraphs farther down the page. A note of caution: I don’t consider “My conclusion” to be an interesting subtitle3.

6. Include links to your website in your article.

This will drive readers to key information on your website. Plus, clicking on links is fun!

7. If including an image, make sure it has a purpose.

Most people come to a website looking for information, not images. Make sure that key points of your text are most prominent.

8. Don’t be afraid to show some personality!

Don’t hide behind the company you’re writing for – people want to know that a real person (like Lindsay Talsness) is writing the article. I strongly encourage using pronouns like, “we” or “I” instead of “the company”.

9. Include a call to action.

Such as, “Don’t have a blog yet? Looking for ways to grow your business online? At Metro Studios, we’d love to help you. Contact us today to get started!”

1. Polynesian-glazed meatballs are a favorite at my house.
2. Nielsen Online (2009). Nielsen Online provides topline U.S. Data for March 2009 [Electronic version]. Retrieved May 8, 2009, from http://nielsen-online.com/pr/pr_090414.pdf
3. However, this subtitle is interesting.

May

18

Metro Studios Got Caught Reading!

May 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment | Written by Lindsay Talsness

May is “Get Caught Reading Month” and we thought we’d give you an inside look at what a few of us at Metro Studios have been reading in our free time.

We hope our recommendations will help you find your next summer read!

Keith Hindman
Chief Operating Officer

Selling the Invisible

"This book is my marketing bible. It has great down to earth lessons on improving the service your company provides – from each employee’s responsibility for customer service to building your brand through building relationships."


Amanda Schadt
Administrative Assistant

The First 30 Days: Your Guide to Any Change (and Loving Your Life More)

"This is a fabulous book about being successful at making positive changes in every area of your life. I highly recommend it!"


Andrew Miller
Director of Application Development

I, Robot

"I read the original – not the movie adaptation with Will Smith, for the love of pete! I love that this is a book from 50 years ago which provides an intriguing perspective on the implications of artificial intelligence."


Kendra Smith
Project Coordinator

Twilight

"Would it be totally embarrassing if I admitted that I am reading the Twilight series right now? I never expected to like this book, but I’m absolutely hooked! The author does a great job of writing an intense vampire love story."


John Whaley
Director of Internet Marketing

Watch This, Listen Up, Click Here

"This book provides an inside look at the $300 billion advertising business. It also describes current advertising trends and predicts their future. This is a great book for people interested in media trends."


Lindsay Talsness
Sr. Web Content Developer

Sense and Sensibility

"I’m revisiting this classic and falling in love with it all over again. Jane Austen wrote this novel almost 200 years ago, yet she manages to write about society with the same witty, insightful, and humorous tone that so many authors today try to achieve."


May

18

Is this Heaven? No, it’s Metro Studios.

May 18, 2009 | 2 Comments | Written by Lindsay Talsness

It’s not everyday you get to help make dreams come true. Especially a dream that’s been 20 years in the making. But this spring, that’s exactly what Metro Studios had the privilege of doing.

In 1988, Field of Dreams, thought to be one of the greatest sports movies ever made, was filmed in Dyersville, Iowa. Following the movie’s release, an unlikely group of men came together to continue the Field of Dreams legacy as a traveling baseball team, performing at military bases and family-oriented events around the world. They became the Ghostplayers.

For the past 20 years, Joe Scherrman, owner of Dreamcatcher Productions and a Ghostplayer himself, has chronicled their adventures on video. His documentary tells the story of how this zany team ranging from a hog farmer to a state representative moved audiences around the world and changed the players’ lives forever.

Dreamcatcher Productions enlisted the help of Aaron Spears, one of our Metro Studios video editors, to take more than 200 hours of Ghostplayers video and cut it into an hour documentary spanning the team’s 20 year journey. This included organizing the raw footage, writing a screenplay, conducting interviews and editing it all together.

From January through April, Metro Studios worked to create the film, and the results have been phenomenal. The documentary was shown to a sold-out preview in April, with an official premiere taking place in July. What’s more, Iowa Public Television plans to broadcast the documentary in July.

Metro Studios is proud to have a part in showcasing this Iowa legacy. We’re also glad to say that Aaron isn’t trapped in the editing suite surrounded by more than 200 hours of video footage.

If you’d like to learn more about the Ghostplayers documentary, check it out online at http://ghostplayer.us Or, watch them play their final game July 19 in Dyersville, Iowa against the U.S. Military All-Stars.

Or, if you’d like to learn more about how you can benefit from Metro Studio’s video editing services whether in Iowa or Arizona, visit our website.

Ghostplayers

Apr

20

We’re popping with excitement for the Kernels!

April 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment | Written by Gina Volk

At Metro Studios, we’ve got our baseball caps on backwards and inside out. Why? Because it’s our way of saying “Congratulations!” to our very own Cedar Rapids Kernels for winning Minor League Baseball’s top honor – the John H. Johnson award.

The award is given to just one team in the U.S. in recognition of the season’s most outstanding baseball franchise. Merits such as franchise stability, contributions to the league, promotion of the baseball industry, and community support all factor into the decision.

As the production team for the Kernels franchise, Metro Studios provides all video coverage during home games, scoreboard graphics, and live and prerecorded video entertainment – transforming a baseball game into a multimedia entertainment event.

Recently, Jack Roeder, General Manager for the Kernels, shared his thoughts on the award with us.

“Metro Studios has been an ideal business partner for the past seven years. Your staff is so involved in our program that we consider you part of our front office team. It’s great working with a company that has such a ‘can do’ attitude. We ask a lot from Metro, and you deliver every time…I honestly believe that without Metro’s involvement over the years with the Kernels, the [John H. Johnson] award would not reside in Cedar Rapids.”

Our team at Metro Studios is honored and proud to be counted part of the Kernels’ award-winning, family-friendly franchise. For a schedule of upcoming Kernels’ games, visit their website!

Looking for a team who can make your next live production a grand slam? Contact Metro Studios – we’d love to make your business stand out – just like the Kernels.

Apr

20

“Net” more business through webcasting

April 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment | Written by Lindsay Talsness

As companies continue to look for opportunities to reduce operating costs and pursue an effective communication strategy, the internet is becoming the clear technology of choice. By using internet streaming media technology, corporate information can be presented in real time to viewers around the world. Following a live webcast, the program can be packaged for video on demand playback for those who were unable to watch the live event. Metro Studios can turnkey a solution that will benefit your company and help you achieve your communication goals.

How you can use webcasting

Businesses, organizations and others are using webcasting for a variety of applications, including:

  1. New product announcements
  2. Annual meetings and conferences
  3. Investor relations messages
  4. HR, organizational development, and benefits updates
  5. Corporate communications and training
  6. Medical and live surgery webcasts
  7. Special events, town hall meetings, division updates

Why webcasting is good for your business

Webcasting provides a return on investment through its many benefits, including:

  1. Extends event to a larger and geographically dispersed audience
  2. Saves travel time and travel/entertainment costs
  3. Available for playback as a video on demand program
  4. Portrays a cost-conscious, yet professional image
  5. Less expensive than satellite broadcasting, print, road shows
  6. Delivered directly to the audience member’s computer

How webcasting works

A live video webcast requires video production, video encoding of the stream, transmission over the Internet, and an audience connected to the Internet with a current streaming media player. Metro Studios provides an end-to-end solution that walks you through the process, provides the necessary resources and expertise, resulting in a great viewer experience.

The viewer experience

Viewers are given a web link that allows them to connect directly into the live event portal. Various levels of security are available, from as easy as entering a guest name, on through password and pre-registration screening. Once logged in, viewers see a live video feed of the event, PowerPoint slides, and a chat window where they can type in questions for the presenters. Viewers can see, hear and interact with presenters in real-time.

Making it happen

Whether your communication event is driven by financial considerations, real-time integration of audio, graphics and video media, a need for turnkey services, or any combination of these, webcasting can be a great solution. A growing number of organizations are discovering that webcasting is the right strategy for accelerating their communication success. Contact Metro Studios today to find out how we can provide you with a unique webcasting solution.

Mar

16

We’d like to thank the Academy…

March 16, 2009 | 2 Comments | Written by Lindsay Talsness

Metro Studios was recently honored with four awards (otherwise known as ADDYs) from the American Advertising Federation of Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. We had a great time working on these projects and are extremely pleased with the results they’ve produced for our clients! Here’s a rundown of the honored projects:

Client: Clearheart Spirits
Project: Internet Marketing Campaign
Silver ADDY – Web/Online Campaign
Metro Studios created a new website for Clearheart Spirits, as well as optimized the website for optimal search engine placement. To further launch their internet marketing efforts, John Whaley, our director of internet marketing used social networks such as YouTube and Facebook to help drive traffic back to Clearheart’s website. We also completed an online media campaign including banner and video ad placement within a variety of vertical markets.






Client: The Rose Company
Project: Identity Collateral
Silver ADDY – Collateral Material: Stationery Package

The Rose Company is a local retailer who supplies specialty promotional products. Metro Studios was responsible for the design of their logo, as well as the creation of a unique set of identity materials for the company. We chose a light green paper stock that complimented the rose icon and solidified the brand.



Client: University of Iowa Children’s Hospital
Project: “Letters” video
Silver ADDY – Public Service – Broadcast/Electronic – Audio/Visual

Metro Studios was commissioned to write, produce, shoot and edit this touching fundraising video for the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. The hospital wanted a video that they could play at a series of fundraising dinners they were holding in various locations around the state. At the very first dinner where the video was played, the goal was to raise $50,000, but the hospital ended up with $100,000 by the end of the night. The Children’s Hospital Medical Director said “of all the videos we have done for twice the budget, none came close to the quality and emotional pull as this one produced by Metro Studios”.



Client: St Luke’s Hospital
Project: Women’s Health Interactive Flash Video
Gold ADDY – Interactive Media

Mark Jones, Metro Studios’ Manager of Web Services, built an interactive flash video application for St. Luke’s Hospital Women’s Health. The video featured a variety of experts and everyday women addressing women’s health issues.



Mar

6

Great expectations

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest and fastest-growing organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. When Metro Studios was chosen to produce JA Worldwide’s new volunteer orientation video, there were large tasks ahead of us - Junior Achievement’s current orientation video was more than 15 years old! Needless to say, JA’s more than 220 offices across the world were clamoring for an updated video.

Globe trotting!

At Metro Studios, we were up to the challenge. As an international organization, it was important for JA to show the different environments where their programs are held—from inner-city schools to suburban classrooms. Our video shoots took us across the United States to Los Angeles, Phoenix, Peoria, IL, and Cedar Rapids, IA.

More than just a training video

Our goal was to create a video that was informative, inspiring, encouraging, and creative. To accomplish this goal, we even incorporated our own version of a reality TV show into the project! We followed a brand new volunteer through her JA experience – from preparing for her first session with a group of at-risk high schoolers all the way through to her last session with the students. Hearing her testify how her weekly sessions probably turned her students around is amazing. (You can check out her interview here – her segment is entitled, “Experience It!”)

Writing it right

Junior Achievement wanted nearly all of the training information to come from testimonials. We interviewed a diverse group of people including: brand new and seasoned volunteers, students, and school administrators. Writing good questions for the interviews, and arranging to interview a diverse group of people made scripting a challenge—in a good way! There were so many great quotes and stories that ended up on the cutting room floor!

Not another boring training video!

Throughout the 51 minute training video, we added several fun segments such as having some 5th grade students spell “entrepreneur” and including a series of student bloopers. The kids we worked with were great, but despite their best efforts, we eventually caught them doing some pretty silly things on camera!

Delivered!

To top it all off, we shot the entire video in HD. That way, it was easy to transfer our footage to a hard drive for JA, enabling them to use the footage in-house. In the end, the DVD had a menu with 9 video segments, as well as an original designed folder that detailed each segment. You can watch the all of the segments at JA’s website. Or, check out some of the highlights on our own site.

Inspired!

To meet the volunteers and hear their stories about why they volunteer…and then to hear the students’ stories about how JA turned their lives around—it was amazing! Metro Studios was proud to be a part of this wonderful project, and the videos were truly a labor of love.


Mar

4

Amateur Video Editing: Tips & Tools

March 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment | Written by Eric Jacobs

Do you dream of being the next YouTube phenomenon? The explosion of digital video in the last decade has brought about many changes.  Now, more and more people are dabbling in amateur video editing. However, the key to creating truly outstanding videos is to know the tricks of the trade that will elevate your video from a wet rag to wildfire viral content:

1. Choose the right software.
Today, most computers come with a pre-installed video editing program. While these programs serve basic functions, the serious amateur editor may want to consider purchasing a more robust editing program such as:
•    Adobe Premier
•    Final Cut Pro
•    Sony Vegas
These programs enable users to really dig into the entire editing process, including fine tuning and trimming of video clips.

2. Cut and trim!
Cutting and trimming is a vital – yet often painful part of video editing. While you may love each and every second you’ve filmed, it’s likely your viewers will not. If you find it hard to determine what areas should be trimmed, have someone else review your footage and provide feedback on what parts seem unnecessary. Overall, “trimming the fat” from your video will leave exactly what you’re looking for – the juicy goodness that is the “meat” of your video.

3. Use Transitions Sparingly.
A transition is how a video moves from one clip to another, and can be a tricky part of video editing. I strongly believe that the fewer transitions you use, the better. Flashy transition techniques make videos look cheap and amateurish.

Yes, it can be tempting to use a cross fade, a quick dip, or a burst of color to transition clips, but overall, the best transitions are those the viewer doesn’t notice.  “So,” you ask, “why do video editing programs provide all of those flashy transitions if I’m not supposed to use them?”  We may never know. But until we find the answer, consider this: When was the last time you saw a movie, sitcom, or commercial that used a transitional technique such as a “star wipe” or “cube spin”?  Probably not for more than 20 years!

4. Remember, it’s not Star Wars.
Special effects are similar to transitions in that most special effects will have the greatest impact when used sparingly.  It’s best to leave the special effects to Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.

5. Don’t Tune Out the Audio!
When editing, it’s easy to become so immersed in the video’s appearance to lose track of how it sounds. You could shoot the most beautiful footage imaginable, but without high quality audio, you may as well be staring at a picture on the wall. After all, video is meant to be a multimedia experience.

6. That’s a Wrap!
By following these editing tips, you’ll be well on your way to separating your video from the masses. If you’re interested in producing a video that truly makes an impact, contact Metro Studios. We have the expert script writers, talent, directors, and audio & video editors to ensure that your video has an outstanding professional touch.

Feb

12

Green Graphic Design:
It’s Not Easy Being Green

February 12, 2009 | Leave a Comment | Written by Kendra Smith

What does it mean to practice green graphic design? The phrase “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” does convey an important message, but just skims the surface of the effective ways you can practice sustainable design.

There are three questions we should ask ourselves before beginning a print marketing piece.

1.    Why?   As in, why do we want to produce this as a print piece?

Before launching a print campaign, ask yourself what the purpose of the campaign is, and whether it will be an effective means of getting your message out to consumers.  Unfortunately, all too often, print campaigns that begin with the best intentions simply end up recipients’ trash, without building your business.

Ask yourself questions like:

  1. What is the purpose of this print piece?
  2. Who are my target recipients?
  3. What is the most effective way to communicate with them?

This leads to my second question…

2.    What?  As in, what alternative marketing methods may be just as, if not more effective than a print campaign?

Here are some alternative ideas to using a print piece (Shameless plug: Metro Studios would be happy to help you make any of these ideas a reality).

  1. E-mail marketing. What about converting your quarterly newsletter into an e-newsletter?  Or, why not send an e-mail instead of a postcard? E-mail marketing is an easy, inexpensive way to market your business.
  2. Text-messaging. If I received a text message announcing that all jeans are 50% off until Sunday at my favorite clothing store, I would be more likely to remember to check out the sale than if I’d received the same message as a postcard.
  3. Chalkboard/whiteboard in front of your business. Need to advertise today’s specials? Instead of using fliers, why not try placing a chalkboard or whiteboard prominently outside your business, showcasing your specials.
  4. Street sandwich board. Hire a high school or college student to hit the streets for your business!  It’s a unique, eye-catching, and personal way to advertise.

3.    How? As in, how can we print responsibly?

Attention printers: don’t cash in your 401k quite yet. Printing is certainly not going to disappear, and those who practice green design don’t expect it to either. I think there will always be a need for physical, printed materials to touch and to hold. The challenge, however, is producing these materials in ways that aren’t harmful to our environment.

Here are some simple ways to print greener:

  1. Purchase sustainable printing products such as vegetable-based inks, and cleaning and processing solvents without environmentally harmful compounds.
  2. Plan press runs carefully to minimize energy use.
  3. Minimizing paper waste when doing proofs by e-mailing digital files, rather than using paper proofs or CDs.
  4. Request use of eco-friendly paper, either certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, or milled using an alternative energy source such as wind or solar power.

Metro Studios has access to all of these green resources, and strives to reduce waste when working with print vendors.  We are increasingly practicing sustainable design, and are always looking for better, greener ways to market our clients’ products and services.  Overall, our goal is to not only save natural resources – but also your own through innovative, creative marketing techniques.

Apr

11

Organic is Good… Right?

April 11, 2008 | Comments Off | Written by John Whaley

Lately, I have had a lot of people contacting me with questions regarding organic optimization, which prompted me to put together a little presentation to help people understand the concept behind organic optimization. I thought I would use today to share a few of the points and examples or organic optimization, in hopes that it helps clear the fog around this sometimes “not so clear topic”.

First off, what is organic search engine optimization? It is the process of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a web site from the search engines via “natural”, or “organic” search results for a targeted keyword. I know that is a “Webster” definition, but in short, it is just the idea of driving more people back to your site from the natural placement within search engines.

This concept is nothing new; it is just recently being applied in a new market (i.e the internet). Take a look at what the yellow pages did for advertising 10 years ago. If your kitchen sink broke in the middle of the night, you would go to the yellow pages for your area, and look up plumbers. You can now do the same thing with the internet, without having to carry a 400 pound book around with you wherever you go. You go to your favorite search engine, type in “plumbers in _____” and you get the results you are looking for.

From a consumer side of things, they are going to want the most relevant, highest rated site. Also with the decreased attention spans of users on the internet, they are not going to take the time to click through to page 2 or 3, or further. This is why it is so important to show up on the first page of the search engines, and even better to show up at the top of page one.

Here are a few of the clients that I have been working with on their organic optimization, and what it has done to help their business.

Kings LogoKings Material | www.kingsmaterial.com
Targeted Keyword: Landscape Products
Results: #3 in Google out of 2.19 million results just a month and a half after the launch of their new site.
American Board of Certification LogoAmerican Board of Certification | www.abcworld.org
Targeted Keyword: legal bankruptcy certification
Results: #1 in Google out of 2.21 million
Targeted Keyword: legal creditors rights certification
Results: #1 in Google out of 354,000
Happle Gourmet LogoHapple Gourmet | www.happlegourmet.com
Targeted Keyword: organic pies
Results: #1 in Google out of 508,000
TD&T Financial LogoTD&T Financial | www.tdtpc.com
Targeted Keyword: Eastern Iowa accounting
Results: #2 in Google out of 1.7 million

Results are current as of 4/11/2008

As you can see, the keywords that we choose to target for these clients are directly related to what a client might be searching for to obtain their product or service. This is one thing that you must always keep in mind when determining what keywords you should target. This can be a very complex process, but can result in a very nice return if done correctly.

This is just one of the many SEO services that are offered here at Metro Studios. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to set-up a free consultation.

Director of Internet Marketing - Metro Studios,
John Whaley  -  johnw@metrostudios.net

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