Monthly archive for June 2013

New Responsive Website Design for Book – Discovering Michigan County by County

New homes page of Discovering Michigan County by County website.

New version of book website design by Connection Group

Screen cap of Discovering Michigan County by County website.

Original screen cap of the website.

Connection Group is pleased to share a recently completed responsive website design for books. Take a look at the before and after images of the customized website design utilizing a WordPress back CMS. The original book website was initially designed by a company that utilizes templates for their customer websites and author Barbara Vandermolen wanted a more customized, contemporary,  website that would function well and still reflect high quality. Connection Group had so much fun going through all the beautiful photography the author has gathered through her over six years of research. Photography, design, and visuals can make or break a responsive website design or print marketing items and Connection Group staff is in heaven when we can play with a catalog of images at this level.
This fabulous book is full of these gorgeous photos in full color that show off the wonders of Michigan County by County. Author Barbara Vandermolen celebrates her home state of Michigan by paying homage to each county in this recently released book “Discovering Michigan County by County” Your A-Z Guide to each of the 83 counties in the Great Lakes State. This tome is  616 pages of pure beauty. The photos alone will hold your interest and attract visitors to the fine Pure Michigan state. The author cleverly outlined each of the 83 chapters to feature details of  every county in Michigan. Each chapter is an A-Z Guide of the county. “A” highlights agriculture, “B” features Bridges or Boats, etc. This informative book is a great find for travelers and residents alike. Clearly Barbara’s effort was a labor of love and Connection Group was honored to work with her to create a new website design that represents the quality Barbara has strived for and reached with this beautiful book. Read more or purchase the book.

June 2013

You’ve probably already heard about email marketing. Email marketing is one of the most effective online marketing tools available for you as a business owner. If you’re wondering how email can help you achieve your business goals, read on and find out the benefits of using emails to build brand loyalty.
As always, we continue to offer regular deals on select identity and marketing pieces.


The Benefits of Using Email Marketing to Cultivate Brand Loyalty

Facebook. Twitter. Pinterest. Google+. The explosion of social media has changed marketing in ways we could never have imagined 10 years ago. But there is one tool that was effective then, and is still powerful today: Email marketing continues to be one of the best ways to reach clients and cultivate brand loyalty.The biggest companies all have a presence on social media. Not to do so would be a big mistake. At the same time, they haven’t abandoned email in their campaign to keep their brands at the forefront of their customers’ awareness.
Read the rest of the article on the Connection Group blog.


Discovering Michigan County by County WebsiteNew Michigan Responsive Website Design for Book Discovering Michigan County by County

Connection Group is pleased to share a recently completed responsive website design for books. Take a look at the before and after images of the customized website design utilizing a WordPress back CMS. The original book website was initially designed by a company that utilizes templates for their customer websites and author Barbara Vandermolen wanted a more customized, contemporary,  website that would function well and still reflect high quality. Connection Group had so much fun going through all the beautiful photography the author has gathered through her over six years of research. Read more…


Save on Letterheads
Save 15% on your next order of full-color letterhead stationery, including design and printing. Check out some of our previous projects, and contact us to start crafting your new business stationery today.

Project spotlight Websites for Authors and PublishersMonthly Print Promotions 15% off full color letterhead - original design and printing.

The Benefits of Using Email Marketing to Cultivate Brand Loyalty

Email collage graphicFacebook. Twitter. Pinterest. Google+. The explosion of social media has changed marketing in ways we could never have imagined 10 years ago. But there is one tool that was effective then, and is still powerful today: Email marketing continues to be one of the best ways to reach clients and cultivate brand loyalty.
The biggest companies all have a presence on social media. Not to do so would be a big mistake. At the same time, they haven’t abandoned email in their campaign to keep their brands at the forefront of their customers’ awareness.
Though you may hear some people say that “email is dead,” we really haven’t seen any evidence that we should move all our communication to Twitter, etc. Here is why this oldest form of electronic communication is still king:

  • Email is everywhere

Everyone has email. It’s one of the most portable and reliable communication systems we have today. You can access it anywhere and anytime. You need email to keep in touch, to conduct business, and to be on any social media site. It’s the one tool that ties together everything you do online. Even if your customers are not on Twitter or Facebook, they most likely will have email.

  • Email marketing is low-cost

As a business owner, your company’s email newsletter is one of your best assets. You can use it to send communications about company news, sales, discounts, surveys, and more, all at a fraction of what it would cost you to send printed material.

  • Email is personal

When you email someone, you greet that person by name, and personalize your communication. The same is true for email marketing, even if the content is intended for a big audience. When clients sign up to receive your updates, they choose to let you inside their inboxes, and may provide both their first and last names. Addressing someone by their first name helps establish your brand’s familiarity and connection to your customers.

  • Email marketing is targeted

When people opt-in to your mailing list, they are telling you that they are interested in what you have to offer. Whether it’s information about your industry or offers for coupons, you already know that the emails you send are welcome in their inboxes. Email marketing is not a scattershot approach, where you send something out to the ether and hope something sticks. Your email subscribers are already part of a client base that you can count on to be interested in what you have to offer.
Email marketing also allows you to target specific communication pieces to subsets of your larger subscriber list. Some subscribers may only want to receive coupons or notification of upcoming events. Others may be interested in receiving both. You can manage your email list in such a way that subscribers get exactly the type of communication they want and are most likely to engage with.

  • Email marketing is measurable

One of the benefits of email marketing is that you are able to gauge your clients’ reactions to your emails. Whenever you send out a piece of communication, you’ll be able to measure certain metrics that tell you which promotions are most popular, and which ones get your customers to a purchasing decision. It’s also easier to tweak an email marketing campaign than one done through printed mailings.
Email marketing is a very effective and low-cost way of keeping your clients informed about what your company is doing. It’s a tool you can use to gather feedback and build brand loyalty. You essentially have a captive audience when you send out emails to your subscribers.
Email continues to be an indispensable component of inbound marketing for any company. Used properly, a healthy email list is one of the best ways to grow your business and turn casual clients into loyal customers. Contact us today to learn how our clients benefit from email marketing, and how your company can do the same.

May 2013

Effective marketing tools include a combination of a strong online presence and a selection of high-quality printed materials.
In addition to your business card, these printed materials include what’s known as “leave-behind” pieces. In this edition of Connectivity, we talk about how to incorporate these elements into your branding and marketing efforts. Don’t forget to check out how you can save on brochures this June.


“Leave-behind” Pieces and Brand Awareness

Do you know how to create an effective “leave-behind” piece that increases your brand’s awareness?
Even though a big portion of your efforts to build brand awareness happens online, you should not neglect using “leave-behind” pieces for your small business.
A leave-behind piece is printed material that can be left with a new contact or potential customer. There are many types of leave-behind pieces that you can use to make a lasting impression, keep your company in your client’s minds, and eventually lead to a sale. These materials should complement your online presence, and offer the additional advantage of visibility even when your contact isn’t online.
Click here to learn about guidelines to keep in mind if you want to create pieces that effectively complement your online marketing efforts.


Save on Brochures
Save 15% on your next order of full color brochures, including design and printing. Check out some of our previous projects, and contact us to start crafting your new leave-behind pieces today.