That’s right – after quite a bit of wrangling with software and getting a handle on logistics, we are going to celebrate our 5th anniversary with EXPLORE by creating the entire issue in 3-D.

From a production standpoint, it’s an absolute disaster.  Every image, page, article, and ad must be heavily manipulated to create the effect.  Then you have to create a process for the client to review and approve their ad.  In 3-D.  Ugh.  And where will the glasses be?  And will it still be easy to read?  And what happens when EXPLORE balloons from a 48 page magazine to an 84 page whopper?

As you can see, issues abound.  However, rest easy.  Yes, you can proof your ad in 3-D.  Yes, the glasses will be glued to the cover.  Yes, it will be easy to read.

Is it going to be flipppin’ AWESOME?  Absolutely.

Stay tuned – much to come.

The problem is the SCOPE of the market.  If you own a business in Boerne, odds are that you are living and dying off of the local crowd.  If they love ya, you’ll be fine.  Propping up poor sales #s due to the lack of the San Antonio customer is rarely a solution.  It just means that you’re going to spend a TON of money seeking customers out of the 2 million + people that live in SA.

Advertising in Boerne typically is going to cost you $300/mo (just an average #).  That same ad that you put in a local Boerne publication will cost you over $1000 for a San Antonio magazine or paper.  And will it reach your potential customer?  Maybe.  But are you looking for a customer on the East side?  Or downtown?  Or in Floresville?  NO!  But guess what – San Antonio publications always cover these areas.  On the flip side, will the Boerne publication reach your potential customer?  YES.  100% of the time.

With the $700 you saved by staying local, why not print flyers to post around town?  Or buy Facebook ads and drive traffic?  Or do any # of marketing ideas that will further your brand and reach local customers.  The opportunities are endless.

You’re running a business in Boerne for a reason.  Either you live here, or you think that your business makes sense FOR BOERNE.  Why not put more effort into reaching the very people that could become wonderful return customers, rather than spending through the nose to reach a customer that MIGHT come ONCE.

Just our .02.

Check it out here:

www.hillcountryexplore.com

I meet many small business owners that are crazy-busy.  It’s hard to get them to respond to emails, to make appointments, and generally get all the work done in a day.  And then, when we’re working on their site, they say “Oh – wouldn’t it be cool if we have a blog?!!”

My answer – “Maybe.”

Blogs are highly effective – they keep your content fresh, they give users a reason to frequent your site, and they help the search engines find your site.  So yes, blogs CAN be a great idea.

For the blog to work, and work well, it takes work.  You must update it weekly, find pertinent content that is in line with your business, and write it coherently.  And most importantly, you have to be dedicated to your blog.

It really takes some honesty with yourself.  Do you have the devotion to sit down once a week and spend the hour it will take for you to bang out a good, well-rounded, blog post?  If not, you should pass on the idea.  For all of the positives that can be said for a blog, if you fail to update it for very long periods of time, not only is it in-effective at attracting customers, many times it will actually turn them away.   If you go to a website for a restaurant and see that the blog hasn’t been updated in 3 years, how do you feel about that business?  Are they still in business?  Have they given up?  I don’t know – let’s look for somewhere else to eat.

So if you want to blog…..then BLOG.  Don’t shoot yourself in the foot by hurting your business because you’re not honest with yourself.

We continue to see many, MANY clients that are coming from highly frustrating situations.  The web designer that is inaccessible, or high bills for simple edits are driving businesses all over the place to seek a break from the frustration of operating a website.

And we’re glad they found us.

Boo-Dawg’s:  This one is going to be pretty unique for us.  Not only are they wanting an entirely new, customized site but they are also wanting weekly updates.  That’s a pretty active site for the small business, but we’re excited.  They want weekly photo updates of families that have enjoyed the restaurant, weekly blog updates, as well as event calendar management.  We’re nearing the completion of Round 1 of the concept for the site, and hope that they enjoy the VASTLY improved site.

GreenSpace:  Nice and simple.  ”We’re a landscape company that doesn’t even own a site.  Can you build us something that is nice, clean, CHEAP, and something we can update sporadically?”  Us:  ”DONE.”

Texas Fine Art Collector’s Guide:  Top Secret.  Details coming June 1.