This New Website is Helping to Transform a Business
Cedar Lake Ministries in Cedar Lake, Indiana partnered with The Creative Company to create a new brand leading website. The challenges of the old site were many but the biggest were a poor mobile experience, a difficult work flow to update or add new content, and a confusing picture of the opportunities available at Cedar Lake Ministries.
The new site focuses on conveying the beauty of the grounds and facilities, the quality of their retreat and conference experiences, and wonderful camps options available.
BEFORE
AFTER
NAVIGATION
The Creative Company combined strong message and bold design with solid user experience in Cedar Lakes Ministries’ new website, which we launched this month.
The majority of us now experience the web on tablets and smartphones more than our desktop, so it was important that the site was developed with visual impact and intuitive usability on devices and so that’s where the design and development process started.
If you build with mobile in mind, users will find what they’re looking for, stay on your site longer and be more likely to convert!
3 Tips for Effective Social Media Ads
1. Make it the Best 10 Seconds EVER.
One fifth of your viewers will click away from a video within 10 seconds or less. Short and to the point – that’s what the video experts are recommending. Our advice? Get right to the grit of the tale and manage expectations from the outset (within the first 5 to 10 seconds).
2. Tell your story with and without sound.
According to Digiday, almost 9-in-10 Facebook videos are consumed without sound, a signal that brands should consider producing video content that can still be engaging, even in silence (Facebook). To that point, Facebook found that adding captions to videos increases the watch time by 12%, on average.
3. Use the first few seconds wisely.
Bring your story to life quickly, so as people scroll through News Feed looking for content, your video ad quickly piques people’s interest. Consider showing brand or product imagery in the first few seconds.
Check out this video Creative Company produced for a social media ad that ran nationally. Analytics show an 800% spike in sales the hour the ad began running. This short, sweet, punchy ad contributed to web store sales exceeding the monthly budget by 10%.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Book Signing
You’re invited to to join us for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, books, and a short talk by the author of #180in120 Recharge Your Business in 120 Days, Laura Gallagher. Don’t miss this VIP event, sponsored by Jason Mascitti at Thrivent Financial.
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Bonfyre American Grille
2601 W Beltline Hwy
Madison, WI 53713
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Please RSVP
We’ll also be giving away two tickets to Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Wisconsin at the event, but you must be present to win!
2nd Annual Soar Above Gala
Amelia Earhart was a pioneer for women’s rights and empowerment, and she soared above limitations. We embrace all Amelia represented as we work to help victims of domestic violence soar above their circumstances to a life of safety and freedom.
Soar Above is an annual fundraising gala benefiting End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, the statewide coalition that serves the 73 domestic violence programs throughout Wisconsin and also offers direct legal services to immigrants, refugees and other marginalized populations.
The event will be held Friday September 22, 2017 at Monona Terrace. Join us for an evening of food, fun and flight! You’ll enjoy cocktails, dinner, dancing, a wine pull and silent auction and an awards presentation, honoring heroes in the fight against domestic violence.
With a nod to Amelia Earhart, a pioneer in aviation and women’s empowerment, the entire evening will embrace a 1920s theme. You are encouraged to wear 1920s attire!
Friday, September 22, 2017
Monona Terrace
1 John Nolen Drive
Madison, WI 53703
5:00pm – 11:00pm
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Wisconsin
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) is the world’s largest celebration of women innovators and job creators. It is described by Fortune Magazine as “a global movement to celebrate and support female founders and shed light on some of their challenges.” Forbes Magazine wrote that the intention was also “to mobilize a global network of female business owners, entrepreneurs and change makers who support and empower this community of women entrepreneurs and their businesses.”
Now as the WED Ambassador for Wisconsin, I invite you to celebrate Women’s Entrepreneurship Day 2017 in Madison, Wisconsin on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 and be part of the movement.
Join an inspiring group of Change Makers, Social Entrepreneurs, C-Suite Executives, Heads of Organizations, CEOs, and News Media to collaborate and find solutions in critical areas of entrepreneurship eco-systems, education and policy creation to empower women in business to alleviate poverty both here and around the globe!
Early bird ticket rates are available until September 12, 2017 so get your ticket now! Advertisers and sponsors – now is the time to talk and get your company in position to be in front of the largest gathering of this powerful group of business leaders. Please contact me at laura@thecreativecompany.com or call 608-442-6336.
A big thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Summit Credit Union, Madison College, Just Coffee Cooperative, SVA Consulting, Old National Bank, the Business Forum and Clotho Digital for their early support and commitment to bringing this conference to women in Wisconsin!
If you see any of the leaders on the Advisory Board, please tell them “thank you” too! They have been working behind the scenes to make this experience absolutely tremendous for every attendee!
Together, we rise! Make plans and I hope to see you there!
You can also find the event page on Facebook!
“Whatever it is that you think you want to do, and whatever it is that you think stands between you and that, stop making excuses. You can do anything.” — Katia Beauchamp, co-founder and CEO, Birchbox.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Monona Terrace
1 John Nolen Dr
Madison, Wisconsin