The Concept

The main objective for this project was to help Tasha create a strong thriving digital presence that would effectively make use of multiple marketing and communication platforms while streamlining her business processes and providing a more useful and convenient customer experience for her clients. This involved the creation of a new website with features specific to Tasha’s business and industry, as well as make use of mobile and the implementation of social networking, print and digital marketing strategies.

About The Project

Competitive Analysis

To gain a better understanding of the specific features and requirements that would be necessary to ensure the success of the project as well as Tasha’s business, we conducted an in-depth competitive analysis. We looked at several other hair stylists and salons to identify what they were doing that worked well for them and what was not working at all. All avenues were researched to determine how each business was operating within the marketing channels our client was targeting and how best to implement an effective strategy to ensure success.

Features and Requirements

Our competitive analysis provided great insight into the salon industry helping us to determine many useful features that would meet and exceed our clients expectations. Some of these features included the integration of an online booking system which used AJAX to provide a seamless customer experience as well as a website registration system that included the automated distribution of discounts, promotions and incentives to those who registered.

The online booking system is a great feature that enabled Tasha’s customers to check her available schedule, book an appointment with her automatically setting the correct duration of the appointment, sync the scheduled appointment with Google Calendar and then send an email and text notification to both Tasha and her client. This new feature not only provided significant convenience and value to Tasha’s clients but also streamlined her scheduling process by reducing a great deal of back and forth between Tasha and her clients.

Information Architecture

The next step was to clearly design the flow of information. We documented every aspect of information presentation to ensure visitors to the site were presented with the most useful and relevant content. This effort also allowed us to clearly define each step in an automated sales funnel that would allow Tasha to not only provide discounts and promotions to new and existing clients, but also drive new business.

Design

With all analysis, research and design documents in hand, we began to design a consistent look and feel throughout Tasha’s to convey her digital presence. The new design had to be elegant and beautiful while still providing the useful flow of information necessary to increase her business and streamline the customer service experience.

Development

Our developers set out to integrate the elegant design and required features into Tasha’s website, Twitter profile and Facebook Page. This effort included the integration of key features necessary to provide a great customer experience for her clients. The booking system was integrated into her website and Facebook Page and an image gallery of some of her work was built into the site as well.

As with all our digital designs, great effort was taken to ensure Tasha’s digital presence was SEO friendly.

Digital Marketing and Social Media Strategy

In addition to creating a beautifully designed website and social media presence for Tasha, we also set out to create a strong brand awareness by creating and implementing a very well thought out digital marketing and print media strategy. The strategy allowed Tasha to have a step-by-step game plan to increase brand awareness and drive new customers. Through this effort she was able to take advantage of multiple marketing channels such as the Internet, social networking, print, email and SMS text message marketing. As a result Tasha’s business now reaches her clients on multiple fronts simultaneously.

We created all marketing materials and tools Tasha was to use to implement her marketing strategy, including a beautifully designed print piece announcing the launch of her new website. You can view the print piece and all designs on the “Design” tab of this case study.

The Result

The clients overall expectation was greatly exceeded as a result of this effort and her business processes have been significantly streamlined and reduced through the implementation of this digital effort. Tasha’s clients are extremely pleased with the new booking system, appointment notifications and convenience. On the very first day of strategy implementation, Tasha gain new business and provided significant value to her clients. A job well done in our book!

The Concept

Internet Marketers Elite is an Internet Marketing and Social Media training site we created to assist our clients in gaining the knowledge and guidance they needed to help them successfully build their business on the Internet… Simply having a website is not enough especially when you want to grow your business and increase sales.

The goal was to create a website that would provide onDemand training through both a blog and a membership website. Blog content is freely provided and covers the basics of internet marketing and social media. Additionally, visitors to the site also have the option to pay a monthly membership fee to gain further access to highly detailed and more advanced onDemand video training, webinars and consultations.

About The Project

Competitive Analysis

As with any project we do, we began by conducting initial research. We looked at potential competitors and other sites similar in nature to determine what was working best for them as well as identify any mistakes they may be making. We acquired additional inspiration for features based on what worked well for our competitors and took care to stay away from any mistakes.

Features and Requirements

Once all research was complete, we set out to document all features and requirements. We carefully prioritized each feature based on business use and user importance then grouped them into appropriate phases of implementation. This site features a sales presentation, blog, paid membership sections, onDemand training, payment processing, a powerful sales funnel and more.

Information Architecture

Next we clearly defined the flow of information which helped use design how we wanted users to navigate the site. This effort helped use identify potential weaknesses that could reduce conversions before the site was ever created. This saved us a great deal of time while helping to better construct the overall architecture and navigation of the site.

Design

Since this site is offered a service provided by Rival Media Studios we kept with company colors throughout the design of the site. We also pay close attention to the placement of clear, concise “Call to Action” which are displayed prominently throughout the site. We also created a detailed design document that laid out all requirements, features, information presentation, site navigation and content. This effort provided a clear road map for development.

Development

Since the overall goal of the site was to provide an internet marketing education to its visitors we took special care in the construction of the site to ensure access of the subject matter was easy and accessible. We outlined the entire site schema to clearly define all the relevant data relationships necessary for the presentation of information to site visitors.

We then set our sites on SEO to ensure the site was highly optimized for search engine marketing as we do with all the sites we create. Furthermore, we built the site out to be accessible on mobile devices as well ensuring a greater reach and dissemination of training content to site visitors.

The Result

The end result was a beautifully designed site that currently serves up valuable internet, search engine and social media marketing training to thousands of people daily. The reach of the site is growing beyond our existing creative services clients to small business owners around the world seeking to increase their knowledge of the internet and build a more successful presence on the internet.

Internet Marketers Elite now boasts over 200 members and a growing business community of small business owners networking, exchanging ideas and building a stronger business on the Internet.

The Concept

The idea is to have the blog provide free guidance and instruction to the network marketing industry through video blog posts, social media interaction and email marketing. New videos are posted 3 times a week, each giving a wealth of knowledge and inspiration to the network marketing industry.

About The Project

Research

Great effort was placed into researching the viability of this site. We first identified if there truly was a need for the site and secondly how well would it be received. The next step was to do a competitive analysis to see what other influential blogs and industry leaders were doing right and identify what they were also doing wrong. Armed with that knowledge, we then set out to create the sites requirements and identify any features that would be relevant to its overall purpose.

Features and Requirements

We knew that in order for the site to have a profound impact within its niche, it needed stand out from other sites similar in nature. Information had to be easily accessible and presented quickly to help site visitors find exactly what they were looking for quickly. We identified several key features that would help in the presentation and navigation while providing an elegant look and feel.

Information Architecture

As with any project we create, identifying the flow of information, navigation and traffic is key to the overall long-term success of the project once it is completed. During this phase of the project, we clearly identified how we wanted information to be presented to site visitors and how we wanted to direct traffic to ensure the most relevant areas of the site were viewed. All this was done through the creation of wireframes which allowed us to separate the flow of information from overall design aspects of the site. It also helped us improve the flow and navigation of the site.

Design

Our main focus for this project was the presentation and dissemination of information to the target market. Once we had identified how we wanted information to flow and what information we wanted to present to allow us to successfully direct site traffic to the areas we wanted, we needed to then identify the overall look and feel.

With the knowledge that this was a blog installation, we selected WordPress as the basis for the blogs foundation. In most cases we create our own custom theme using the Thesis theme architecture, however, for this blog we decided to integrate a premium theme from Elegant Themes. This choice enabled us to quickly integrate a clean, professional look and feel into the blog’s architecture.

Development

Now that we had our blog setup and theme installed, we set our efforts on creating an elegant experience for the sites visitors. This meant customizing the chosen theme to meet our needs. To do this we used our knowledge of PHP, jQuery, HTML and CSS, as well as graphic design to add polish to the site.

Additionally, we developed a sales funnel that would capture leads to an email list allowing us to encourage return visits and grow traffic as the site continued to publish information.

The Result

Powerofmore.net is quickly becoming an influential industry leader within its niche and successfully trains tens of thousands of network marketers daily.

The Concept

We wanted to create a compelling teaser website that would showcase our top capabilities and leave those who viewed it wanting more. The teaser had to impact the most valuable senses we could appeal to with a web experience. Therefore, we put our resources to use and created a visually moving experience with fluid visual effects complete with dramatic, magical, yet mysterious audio to let potential clients that we mean business.

About The Project

From start to finish this project took only one week. Visually it is very simple, displaying only text in motion while synchronized to dramatic music. Total length of the music and animation is 2 minutes 41 seconds. We know it’s long, but the combination of visual effects and dramatic music successfully kept the teaser sites visitors on the site long enough to complete the animation. This proved to us that the combination of motion graphics combined with the right audio stimulation are a potent pair that allowed us to capture a visitor’s attention quickly and captivate them with our message. Marketing 101 at its best.

Research

With the idea of the teaser site in mind, we began our efforts by first conducting research on the musical aspect of the site. We wanted music that was epic and dramatic in nature yet mysterious in its overall presentation. We knew that once we identified the music, it would inspire the creative direction of the site.

Information Architecture

Once we settled on the musical direction for the site, we set our sights on the message we wanted to convey to the sites visitors. The text of the site was to be the main focal point, therefore, every aspect of it from the flow of the message to the font, color and typography were all very important features of the site.

Design

The design of the teaser site is simple in nature and presentation. Having only a gradient background and text, we quickly constructed a look and feel that was pleasing, elegant and provided a bit of the mystery we were looking for.

Development

This is where the real fun began! The site was completely developed in Flash using an Object Oriented Programming (OOP) methodology and ActionScript 3. Through the use of the unique features of Flash, we were able to apply stunning visual effects to the text and graphical elements of the site, as well as integrate beautiful video effects seamlessly into the site to provide beautiful visual impact.

The Result

The impact of this simple teaser website was tremendous. It yielded more business for Rival Media Studios than we originally anticipated while showcasing our creative capabilities to the fullest.

The Concept

Josh wanted Rival Media Studios to create a strong brand and thriving presence on the Internet. He wanted a site that would help present himself as an experienced multisport coach with the knowledge and expertise to boost aspiring athletes performance and success in multisport events. The site needed to present Josh as an industry expert while building his brand.

About The Project

Competitive Analysis

Since Josh did not have an existing website we began our research by first conducting a complete competitive analysis of Josh’s closest competitors to determine what they were doing well as well as what they were doing poorly. Again, we made sure to stay away from obvious mistakes while gaining inspiration for additional features and requirements for Josh’s site.

Features and Requirements

Once all research was complete we then set out to document all features and requirements that were to be included in the site. This effort was greatly enhanced through the cooperation provided by the client. Each feature was prioritized and subsequent implementation phases were identified.

Information Architecture

Upon determining the features that are to be included in the site, we then began to layout the sites structure, navigation and feature functionality in wireframes. This helped us separate the sites functionality and navigation paths without the distraction of color, typography and other final polish details that would be included later.

Design

We drew inspiration from the likes of Nike and Adidas for the look and feel of the site while taking into consideration the more personal features the client required. The design was created to present Josh as the experienced, successful athlete and multisport coach that he is.

Development

We used HTML, CSS, jQuery and AJAX in conjunction with the WordPress CMS platform as the foundation for the site, then created a custom theme based on the Thesis architecture that played well into SEM/SEO practices. This allowed us to bring the site up quickly while meeting the feature requirements the client wanted at an affordable cost basis.

Email Marketing

In addition to the creation of the site for Josh, we also mirrored our efforts by creating an HTML email template that provided a consistent look and feel. We then syndicated the sites RSS feed to the email marketing service thus automating each email to populate and mail each time new content was posted on the site.

The Result

The end result was a site that provided Josh Wolf with the strong appearance of an accomplished athlete and allows him to nurture and build his own personal brand.

The Concept

The Dallas Art Fair wanted two single page microsites that exactly mirrored their print material. The goal of the sites was to provide the location of each fair held annually, as well as basic details and contact information for general inquiries and exhibitors interested in participating.

About The Project

Rival Media Studios was tasked with creating an exact digital duplicate of each art fair’s printed material brochures which were already being marketed to the public. The project was extremely simple reaching completion in a matter of days rather than weeks or months for most digital projects.

Feature Requirements

The only requirement given for this project by the Dallas Art & Design fairs was to exactly match the look and feel of their printed marketing materials. Additionally, visitors to each site should be able to click on the given email address to contact representatives of the fair for general inquiries or exhibitor information. That’s it!

Design

Once supplied with the marketing brochure for each of the fairs, Rival Media Studios designers immediately began work on the design of the microsites using the printed brochures as a guide. Everything from the color of the brochure to the simplicity of its design was used in the design of the digital representation. Each design was completed in one day and sent for review and approval by Dallas Art Fair officials.

Development

Given the simplicity of the design elements for the two sites. development for each site took less than one day each. Even though each site was extremely simple in design and development complexity, Rival Media Studios put the sites through our quality assurance process to ensure they met the high standards of both Rival Media Studios and the Dallas Art Fair.

The Result

An exact digital duplicate of both art fairs printed marketing brochures providing consistent branding and information presentation across the spectrum for the Dallas Art Fair and the Dallas Design Fair.

The Concept

The Cooper Institute wanted to provide a more efficient and cost-effective way for its personal training instructors to receive certification training. Training would be delivered to students over the Internet and through fix media direct to their mailbox or computer. All documentation and support material was to be included with the training in digital format.

About The Project

Analysis

Rival Media Studios began tackling this project by first identifying the key issues that needed to be addressed in order to achieve successful delivery of training content according to the clients specifications, as well as insure successful project completion. We identified various delivery methods and technologies. Subject matter experts from The Cooper Institute would provide all the relevant content as well as training.

Features and Requirements

Once all research was complete, we then set out to document the features and requirements that were to be included in the site. We prioritized each feature according to user importance and business importance, then grouped them into appropriate phases to determine which features would be appropriate for initial roll out or a later phase. This effort was greatly assisted by The Cooper Institute team.

Information Architecture

Once all site requirements have been finalized, we then laid everything out in wireframes. We use wireframes to clearly layout the sites structure, navigation and functionality strategy. This is extremely useful as it allows us to identify weaknesses and make adjustments without the distraction of color, typography and other “polish” details that will come later.

Design

At this point, we began designing a user interface that was simple, clean and elegant while keeping inline with the project requirements. Since this application was an eLearning application, it was very important to keep it simple and to efficiently deliver the training content to ensure students received the quality education and training that The Cooper Institute is known for. the application would use instructor video synced with slides to deliver each lesson and would be broken down into subject modules. The design would be modular in nature to provide quick and easy access to training materials and content.

Development

Once the design was finalized by both Rival Media Studios and The Cooper Institute, we immediately began development of the application. A video production crew was sent to the clients facilities to record the instructor videos. We used Flash as the delivery platform because it provided the right platform from which training content could be delivered on both the Internet and DVD.

The Result

The project was a great success for both Rival Media Studios and The Cooper Institute. It significantly reduced the institutes travel expenses and overall training cost. Personal Training professionals were also able to successfully complete their certification process from the convenience of their own home or work place.

The Concept

Rival Media Studios was tasked with completing a complete re-design of Precision Cabling Inc corporate image. This involved everything from their logo and website, as well as various other marketing materials, and should boost the company’s overall brand to provide greater reach while presenting them as the preferred company for structured cabling systems.

About The Project

The Logo

We kick started the project by re-designing the company logo. The new logo needed to clearly define Precision Cabling Inc as a structured cabling company while giving the company the quality look they wanted.

We created the new logo using CAT-5 Ethernet cable as the basis for the new logo. The rendering of the cable within the new logo came out extremely well and functioned as the foundation for the new look. We also updated the font to a cleaner, more professional font and included the company’s byline below the company name using the CAT-5 cable rendering as the separator.

Finally, we placed a subtle wave of six lines as the background to the new logo which helped the logo continue to represent Precision Cabling Inc as a structured cabling company by making it look as though a cable bundle was in the background. The final rendering of the new logo is displayed on the Designs tab for this project.

Site Audit

Once the new logo was finalized, we set our sites on re-designing their existing website within the confines of the specific business requirements laid out to us by Precision Cabling Inc. This effort began with a complete audit of their existing website to determine all the current requirements and functionalities.

Competitive Analysis

From there we conducted an in-depth competitive analysis. We looked at the sites for other structured cabling companies to determine what they were doing well as well as what they were doing poorly. We made sure to stay away from obvious mistakes, however, there was also plenty of inspiration derived from this effort giving us additional features and functionalities that would enhance the Precision Cabling Inc website.

Features and Requirements

Once all research was complete, we then set out to document the features and requirements that were to be included in the site. We prioritized each feature according to user importance and business importance, then grouped them into appropriate phases to determine which features would be appropriate for initial roll out or a later phase. This effort was greatly assisted by the Precision Cabling Inc team.

Information Architecture

Once all site requirements have been finalized, we then laid everything out in wireframes. We use wireframes to clearly layout the sites structure, navigation and functionality strategy. This is extremely useful as it allows us to identify weaknesses and make adjustments without the distraction of color, typography and other “polish” details that will come later.

Design

The Precision Cabling Inc brand needed to be clearly represented throughout the site while providing for a clean, professional feel. The new logo helped to serve well in the design of the website.

Keeping with company colors, we re-branded the site using a beautiful blend of color variations, imagery and typography the clearly enhanced and defined the company. The new design featured a top navigation, testimonials, a company news feed and clearly dominate call to actions.

The final design of the home page can be seen on the Designs tab of this project. Unfortunately, Precision Cabling Inc was hit hard by the down turn in the housing market which greatly affected their business. The project was put on hold as a result and the site was not developed.

The Concept

We were tasked with creating a commemorative 10th anniversary logo to be used throughout the company’s marketing materials and branding efforts for the entire year. Two compositions were provided from which a selection was made.

About The Project

United Protective Services wanted to keep the commemorative logo and branding effort simple, ensuring that the design did not deviate significantly from the original company brand. As part of that effort, we simply took the existing logo and added gold trimming to it along with a gold banner below the logo which indicated the company’s 10 Year Anniversary. The logo also contained the numerical representation of the year of inception along with the tenth year.

Rival Media Studios was also responsible for the creation and maintenance of a new email marketing template and campaign which commemorated the United Protective 10th Anniversary. The new 10th anniversary commemorative email provided the company with a warm, elegant and classy feel while ensuring the email template was displayed properly across multiple email platforms.

The Result

The end result of this project enabled United Protective Services to continue its successful business model with a much more elegant, classy look and feel. Through this effort the company has successfully presented itself as a more prestigious competitor within its industry.

Additionally, United Protective Services was able to build a stronger brand as well as increased business through their overall marketing effort as a result of the branding efforts placed on their 10 year anniversary by Rival Media Studios.