This blog category is dedicated to exploring the nuts and bolts of successfully running a business. Here, we discuss topics such as marketing and branding, customer service, and other strategies for building and growing a successful business.
Hey everyone, Dave Martin here, your friendly neighborhood Level 7 Google Maps Contributor. I’m always on the lookout for great local businesses and today, I want to share my experience with two fantastic spots in Plainfield, Indiana: Timber City Coffee and Joy’s Cakery.
This past week, I had a jam-packed day. I needed to squeeze in two online meetings before heading out to a consultation with Bobby Williams at BGW Construction. Bobby’s team is known for their exceptional home renovation, kitchen, and bathroom work, so this was a big meeting. I knew I needed to be sharp and fueled up, so I made a beeline for Timber City Coffee.
Timber City Coffee: A Fuel Stop for Success
A cozy corner of Timber City Coffee Co. in Plainfield, Indiana. This coffee shop is known for its delicious brews and friendly atmosphere. You can see the various coffee blends on display and a sign for their “Faith-Family-Friends-Coffee” initiative, showcasing their commitment to community and quality.
Timber City Coffee is such a cozy and welcoming spot. The moment you walk in, you feel that friendly, local vibe. I grabbed a delicious latte (they roast their own beans, which adds a special touch!) and set up shop at a comfy table in the back. The wifi was fast, so I was able to knock out my online meetings without any hiccups.
Joy’s Cakery: Sweetening the Deal
Delicious cupcakes from Joy’s Cakery, perfect for sharing with colleagues or clients.
After wrapping up the meetings, I headed to the consultation with Bobby Williams at BGW Construction. I wanted to bring a little something special to show my appreciation for their expertise. Guess what? Joy’s Cakery is located right inside the same building as Timber City Coffee, making it a one-stop shop for both caffeine and sweetness!
I couldn’t resist picking up a box of their delicious cupcakes for Bobby and his team. The aroma of freshly baked goods was heavenly, and the variety of flavors was astounding. They had everything from classic Vanilla Cookie Dough and Triple Chocolate to more unique flavors like Lemon and Peanut Butter Dream.
Bobby and his team absolutely loved the cupcakes! They couldn’t get over the freshness and the deliciousness of each bite. The cupcakes were a delightful treat that made the consultation even more enjoyable.
Supporting Local Businesses
I love finding hidden gems like Timber City Coffee and Joy’s Cakery. They offer exceptional products and a personal touch that you don’t find everywhere. The fact that they share a space and create such a unique combo of coffee and cupcakes is a testament to their dedication to quality and customer experience.
So, if you’re in Plainfield, be sure to check out Timber City Coffee and Joy’s Cakery. You won’t be disappointed!
Transforming Ideas into Virtual Reality: The Genesis of 67storage.com
The creation of 67 Storage was a branding project that challenged our creativity and technical expertise but also strengthened our belief in the power of one-on-one collaboration.
Our partnership with Roman, the business owner behind 67 Storage, started with a mission to craft a digital web presence and branding that mirrors the efficiency, security, and user-friendliness of their recently built storage units on Highway 67.
Our branding project began with making a pivotal decision. Roman initially sought to name his venture after his last name, “Manley Enterprises”. However, after sitting down with Roman and getting a better understanding of his marketing goals, we found an opportunity for a more intuitive connection with potential clients.
We brainstormed and design a brand that wasn’t only a name, but also a literal signpost. A logo that encapsulated the business’s essence and its geographical significance. Drawing from its strategic location off of Highway 67, “67 Storage” was born.
This decision wasn’t just about picking a name—it was about crafting a scalable, recognizable, memorable, and easily searchable brand identity across both digital platforms and physical mediums for future customers. ’67 Storage’ was more than a choice; it was a strategic decision that streamlined the discovery process for potential clients.
Brand Identity Creation – Forging the 67 Storage Identity Inspired by the Open Road
With the name “67 Storage” setting the stage, the journey towards creating a cohesive brand identity began.
Color Scheme
A Palette Born from the Road
The color scheme transitioned from concept to palette, drawing from the distinctive colors of highway road signs. This choice was intentional, aiming to evoke a sense of reliability and guidance, much like the road signs that navigate travelers to their destinations. The colors chosen were more than just visually appealing; they were a narrative in themselves, telling a story of trust, direction, and safety.
Typography
Typography plays a pivotal role in bridging 67 Storage’s brand identity with its digital presence. Research into the typography of highway signs—specifically Highway Gothic and Clearview—revealed the practical challenges of licensing and digital optimization. Thus, for the logo, we chose Interstate, a font inspired by highway signage yet suitable for digital use, found on Adobe Fonts. For the website, Overpass from Google Fonts was selected for its web optimized design and open source license, ensuring a consistent, readable online experience. This thoughtful selection allowed us to maintain a connection to the brand’s roots while adapting to the digital landscape.
ClearviewHwy font single computer license purchase page indicating the cost of $795, which informed the decision to select Overpass for the 67 Storage website.
Screenshot highlighting Overpass, a versatile typeface from Google Fonts, chosen for its compatibility with 67 Storage’s branding and logo.
Logo Design
Drawing inspiration from the very roots of the name, the brand’s visual identity took cues from highway signs—a nod to the name’s origin and a brilliant play on familiarity and visibility. The logo was fashioned to mirror the clarity and straightforwardness of highway signage, ensuring instant recognition and connection.
Business Card Design
For the business card, we compressed 67 Storage’s brand identity into a readable, impactful design. The layout and iconography is intentionally minimalist to focus on clearly displaying key contact information. To balance the white space of the card, we crafted a background that aligns with the shield logo on the right. This enhances the card’s visual appeal and brand recognition. Moreover, a QR code links to the 67 Storage website for ease of customer access. Our design approach makes the business card an efficient networking tool and extension of the 67 Storage brand identity.
Picking 67storage.com: Securing a Strong Online Presence
Selecting the right domain name for 67 Storage was a crucial decision to make. Picking an overly complicated or hard to remember domain name could considerably impact it’s ability for customers to find and remember. To avoid this, we decided on 67storage.com, a short, straightforward domain name that both reinforces the brand identity and simplifies the customer’s journey to finding the business online online.
WordPress Website & Design: Crafting a User-Centric Online Space
The website for 67 Storage was intentionally designed to radiate its unique identity while focusing on two primary objectives: attracting new customers and enabling online payment for storage unit rentals. Using WordPress, we customized the latest 2024 Theme and enriched it with hand-coded Custom CSS. This approach added a layer of interactivity to navigation elements, buttons, and links, improving the overall user experience. For style, significant customization was made on the page template to echo the brand’s signature shield motif, ensuring a visual consistency across the digital and physical aspects of the brand.
Key features of the site include detailed information about available storage units, a comprehensive FAQ section, and integration with a payment processor, facilitating easy rent payments for customers. Additionally, the website is equipped with contact forms designed to cater to prospective customers, simplifying the process of inquiring about rentals. This strategic combination of form and function embodies 67 Storage’s commitment to service accessibility and customer convenience, ensuring the website not only serves as a digital storefront but also as a tool for operational efficiency.
Key Takeaway
Working closely together with Roman, we took the initial seeds of a business idea, patiently nurturing them through a collaborative journey to fruition. It was our personal approach to this collaboration—taking the time to understand Roman’s vision, marketing goals, and the core values he wanted to portray—that let us create more than just a name or logo; we built an identity that truly embodied the key principles of efficiency, security, and customer focus.
This project was more than a branding initiative; it was a testament to the power of personalized collaboration. By establishing a strong sense of trust with Roman and understanding his vision, we were able to ensure the branding truly reflected the essence of his business. This synergy created a robust, impactful brand that held a distinct logo and strong digital presence.
67 Storage is no longer only an idea, but a living representation of Roman’s vision, bringing a tangible impact to the marketplace. It stands as the embodiment of thorough deliberation, cooperative work, and perseverance, and we’re immensely proud to be part of this evolving journey of 67 Storage. Our collaboration with Roman underscores the incredible outcomes that can be achieved through an individualized, insight-driven approach to business development.
In today’s fast-paced digital world, having your business information accurately listed on various online platforms is not just a necessity; it’s a game-changer. At David Martin Design, we’re excited to announce our latest offering – Local Business Listing Management. This service is tailored to help business owners like you gain better visibility and ensure your business details are always up-to-date across key platforms, including Google, Bing, and more.
The Importance of Accurate Business Listings: Accurate business listings are critical for two main reasons. First, they ensure that your potential customers can find you easily. Second, they provide reliable information, building trust and credibility in your brand. Inaccurate or outdated information can lead to lost opportunities and a negative impression.
For a small business in Bloomington, Indiana, beyond the major search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo, there are several other platforms where you can submit your business listing to increase visibility and reach potential customers:
Local Directories and Review Sites:
TripAdvisor: Ideal if your business is related to hospitality, tourism, or dining.
Angie’s List: Great for service-oriented businesses.
Social Media Platforms:
Facebook: Creating a business page on Facebook can help you reach a wide audience.
Instagram: This is especially useful if your business can showcase visually appealing products or services.
LinkedIn: Ideal for B2B businesses and professional networking.
Local Bloomington, Indiana Resources:
Bloomington Chamber of Commerce: Listing your business here can increase local business-to-business connections.
Visit Bloomington: If your business caters to tourists or is part of the hospitality industry, this is a great place to be listed.
BloomingtonOnline: Shop Local isn’t just a trendy slogan. It’s a call to action.
Local Bloomington Newspapers and Magazines: Many local publications have business directories.
Industry-Specific Directories:
If your business falls into a specific niche (like healthcare, legal services, or home improvement), look for directories specific to that industry.
Better Business Bureau (BBB):
Listing your business here can add credibility, as consumers often check BBB ratings.
Google Business and Bing Places:
Businesses can verify and edit their business information, respond to reviews, post photos and offers, and see insights on how customers are interacting with their business.
Community Bulletin Boards and Forums:
Local community centers, libraries, or online community forums specific to Bloomington can be valuable for word-of-mouth referrals.
How Our Service Works: Our Local Business Listing Management service is designed to be simple yet effective. We take the burden off your shoulders by:
Claiming Your Listings: We ensure your business is accurately listed on platforms like Google, Bing, & other important local platforms.
Regular Updates: From changing business hours, and updating posts, to updating contact information, we keep your listings current.
In a world where online presence is crucial, let David Martin Design be your partner in ensuring that your business stands out. Claim your listing today with our Local Business Listing Management service and take the first step towards enhanced visibility and success.
Ready to enhance your business’s online presence?Contact David Martin Design today to learn more about our Local Business Listing Management service and how we can help your business grow.
Every business owner wants to be remembered, respected, and referred. When people remember your business, they are likely to think of you first when they need the products or services you offer. They will also be more likely to recommend your business to family and friends. Respectful treatment of customers will bring them back time and again, and encourage them to spread the word about your business.
The Importance of Being Remembered: How being remembered can benefit the success of a business. Examples of successful businesses that have become well-known by creating a lasting impression.
Being remembered can have a significant impact on the success of a business. When people remember your business, it can lead to increased sales, giving you an edge over your competition. Additionally, when customers remember your company they may feel a connection and loyalty, making them likely to return in the future. This can result in repeat customers and steady growth for the business. Moreover, when customers remember your business, they may recommend it to others, leading to referrals and even more business.
The Importance of Being Respected: Why it’s important for business owners to be respected by their clients and customers. How respect can increase customer loyalty and help to grow the business.
Respect is an important part of any successful business. Customers and clients who feel respected by business owners and employees are more likely to stick around and become loyal customers. Respectful treatment can lead to repeat customers and referrals, and it also helps to foster positive relationships that are so essential to business success. Respecting people’s time and meeting them on their own terms shows that the business cares and values its customers’ needs and wants.
The Importance of Being Referred: The benefits of being referred to potential customers and how it can lead to increased business. Ways to encourage customers to refer others to your business.
Referral marketing is one of the most powerful and cost-effective forms of advertising. It is far more reliable than conventional forms of advertising, as people are much more likely to trust what their family, friends, and colleagues have to say about a business. Additionally, referral marketing can be a great way to expand your reach and gain new customers. Making it easy for customers to refer your business to family, friends, and colleagues is essential to success.
Creating a dedicated page on your website with reviews, links to Google Business and Facebook, and other platforms that take customers directly to the review form is a great way to encourage referrals. This will increase visibility for your business and will ultimately lead to more sales and growth.
Being remembered, respected, and referred will have a significant impact on the success of your business. It is important for business owners to create an impression that lasts and is remembered by their customers and clients. Respectful treatment of customers will help to foster loyalty and keep them coming back. Referral marketing is one of the most powerful and cost-effective forms of advertising, and it is essential to creating visibility and growth. By taking the time to ensure that your business is remembered, respected, and referred, you will be more likely to achieve success.
We are pleased to announce that David Martin Design has become the newest member of The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce! This is a great occasion to celebrate as it will definitely help the community to have another verified member in the Bloomington Website Design category.
Since 2004, David has designed websites with Bloomington business professionals, entrepreneurs, & individuals. David offers website design, web hosting, & helps business owners become more capable with digital marketing tools to make their lives better.
I’m excited to be joining The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce because I see it as an opportunity to network with other business professionals who are also looking for creative solutions.”
David Martin, owner of David Martin Design
The Chamber strives to promote the continuous improvement of the common good and the quality of life in the community through the pursuit of new business; the cultural, social, and economic education of our citizens; and by providing accurate and timely assistance to the business community.
