“Vicky’s addition to the board has already been realized in a very short period of time,” said David Blackman, Chamber President.  “The Westlake Chamber of Commerce has a dramatic need to overhaul its marketing efforts and we have no doubt that Vicky will make an impact on how the business community views the Chamber.”

Gouge and her team at Full Moon Design Group, who have been Westlake Chamber members since 2006, will work to improve the Westlake Chamber’s image and presence in an effort to increase membership. Gouge’s plans include a new logo contest, updates to the Website, a new print brochure, and the implementation of social networking tools.

“Our goal is to help the Chamber look more professional,” Gouge commented of her new role, “which will in turn encourage a growth in membership.”

For more information on the Chamber’s meetings and membership, visit www.westlakechamber.com.

About Full Moon Design Group

Founded in 2004, Full Moon Design Group, Inc. is a fully custom graphic design firm specializing in the creation and production of competition-devouring marketing materials.  From logos to Websites, Full Moon Design Group creates and produces concepts that clearly state your message in a simple and concise manner.  Founders Katie Osborne and Vicky Gouge, and the rest of the Full Moon team, believes in maintaining a standard of quality with a steadfast commitment to customer service and satisfaction.

For more information about Full Moon Design Group, please visit them online at www.fullmoondesigngroup.com.

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Social media, according to Wikipedia, is defined as the use of electronic and Internet tools for the purpose of sharing and discussing information and experiences with other human beings in more efficient ways.

In fact, we are using social media right now.

Social Media Keeps Going and Going

Social media is not new.  It has been around for a few years and started with general blogs and a few kids on MySpace.  Social media was just that, social.  Fast forward three years and now MySpace has become the launch pad for movies and musicians, blogging is almost mandatory, and people know a lot more about your personal life than you could have ever imagined.

The truth is … Social Media isn’t just a fad or the craze of the future … Social Media is here to stay.  The world has become one big open book and if you aren’t up to writing your own chapter, than you might as well close up shop.

Social Media Means Business

The Internet is how everyone gathers their information.  They go to movies based on a critique on a FaceBook page, they buy cars based on someone’s epinion of the newest hybrid, and they choose real estate agents based on a friend’s blog about their house-buying experience.  Your company’s Website and how open you make it (i.e. client testimonials, comments to your blogs, information about your employees) is more important now than ever.

How often you appear on the Internet determines your validity these days.  So …  the next time you are playing around on the Internet; make sure you check Full Moon Desing Group out on FaceBook, read our blog (kind of like you are doing now), and maybe even Twitter about how cool we are.  You Digg?

*Photo by Kevin Zollman

Marketing on a budget.  This is a phrase that is probably on the minds of most of our current and potential clients these days.  Although they know that they shouldn’t cutback their marketing efforts, especially during a slow economy … they are and who can blame them.  But once the budget is cut, how do you still get your name and message out there.

The following are just a few tips on how to market for less money.

Marketing on a Budget:  Your Message

When marketing on a budget, one of the most important things you can do is to make sure that your messaging is on target with your audience.   Making sure that your message is clear and concise ensures that it is getting across to the largest amount of people during this period of reduced marketing efforts.

Marketing on a Budget:  Utilizing the Internet

Once you have your messaging complete, putting it to use is the next step.  One of the most valuable ways you can market yourself is through your Website.  If you don’t have a Website for your business, then you need to get one.  This is the one place that you can show off your business and reach your clients for a minimal cost.

Now that you have a Website, putting it to work properly is critical.  Make sure that you include your Web address on every piece of promotional and marketing materials that you create and make sure that the address is on every advertisement and every correspondence.  Having your potential clients visit your site and learn more about your company increases the odds of getting their business.

Marketing on a Budget:  Word of Mouth

Finally, word of mouth is probably the best marketing tool out there.  Everyone loves to know what others think of a business; they want to learn about others’ experiences first.

There are several ways to incorporate word-of-mouth into your marketing plan.  The first we are going to suggest is testimonials from current and past clients.  These can be posted on your Web site, as well as on promotional pieces.

The second way that we are going to suggest is social media.  Social media is the word-of-mouth for the future and involves sites like FaceBook, LinkedIn, Flickr, Twitter, De-li-cious, Digg, etc.  Social groups and tools that were used in the past strictly by teenagers are now being utilized by businesses everywhere.  There is not a quicker way to spread good news (and bad news) and a corporate message than through these social sites.

Marketing on a Budget:  What Next?

The above is just a sample of the many ways that you can stretch your corporate marketing dollars.  For more tips on how to market on a budget or for assistance on getting your message across, please feel free to contact us at Full Moon Design Group.  We are ready to help!