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At Bowe Digital, our resolutions as individuals and a team are in place for 2021! (Insert Rocky theme here!) If you are anything like us, you are pumped to hit the ground running. You have been training for this your whole life. The new year is before you like a winding road, and you can’t wait to use every twist and turn to your advantage!

Have you considered your marketing plans for this year? Each day is an opportunity to tell everyone about your business, and like Rocky, you need a plan in place to be the champ! It takes a little training, but here are some ideas that will help you knock out your goals to become a marketing champion!   

Resolving to do even one tip from above betters your ability to communicate with the most important people in your corner...your customers. If you need some more support, contact Bradley Erb at bradley@bowedigital.com. He and the other members of the team are ready to cheer you on and can help with websites, social media and promotional material! Reach out because we are ready to fly now...just like Rocky.

Keeping up with the technological times can feel overwhelming, but podcasting opens up your small business to brand-new, marketing audiences. With some background knowledge and a little bit of practice, you can create a valuable resource for your audience and you.

Why choose podcasting? People are looking for connections these days, and podcasts often develop loyal audiences who share what they heard with their friends and family. From these connections, online communities are often created on social media platforms, and your success grows with each comment, like and share. 

Still not convinced podcasts could be for you and your company? Check out the following statistics concerning the overwhelming reach podcasts have:

Podcasting also gives you a chance to show what you know. (When you have a minute, take a listen to Guaranty Goodness...a podcast hosted by Wendy Ethen, the president of Guaranty Commercial Title.) Regardless of your product or services, you are an expert in your field, and you know some stuff! Why not take the opportunity to share your story and put yourself out there as a thought leader in your community? Building your business is your passion, and sharing why you do what you do with your listeners brings interest on a personal level. 

There are many podcasting tools out there that can help you get started, and it might seem a little overwhelming. The Bowe Digital team is here to help you sort it all out, and we can’t wait to work with you. Contact Bradley Erb at bradley@bowedigital.com for more information about partnering with Bowe Digital for your podcasting needs.

Let’s face it! 2020 will be remembered for many things, and numerous crises will top the list. If the Bowe Digital team has learned anything at all, it’s that there is no time to plan when a crisis hits. Being proactive with a crisis management plan can help keep your company, employees and you stay calm, cool and collected.

Last month, our leader, Wayne Stanley, and our good Bowe Digital friend, Patrick Harris from Western Title Company in Reno, Nevada, teamed up for a great presentation at ALTA ONE. Their focus? Four particular Do’s and Don’ts titled, “Nobody Panic! Acing Your Next Crisis.” Above anything else, it is important to have a plan...and sticking your head in the sand cannot be the plan. To maintain your company’s reputation, be upfront and honest about what you are experiencing and what comes next.

The four Do’s and Don’ts that can help you ace your next crisis are:

  1. Be prepared. Brainstorm four crisis scenarios, and develop a plan for each one. Just like a routine fire drill, it is important to practice the scenarios and plan with your team so each member knows who is doing what, when and how.
  2. Know your crisis response team. This team is critical. You know your people, and this team needs speed, efficiency, confidence and decision-making skills. This is not a job for the office gossip. Choose wisely, and prepare them to react quickly and calmly.
  3. Communicate fast with transparency. When the crisis hits, remember that you have prepared for it and get to work. Tell it all, and be honest. If you can’t fix what is happening, say that, and while humor can be effective, this might not be the time for it. Read the room.
  4. Own your mistakes. We all mess up, and when you do, take responsibility. Gather all the facts, and stay calm. Round up the troops, and reward team members who support your organization and you during this time. Tell your story with confidence, and be consistent.

With proper preparation, patience and planning, your company will show your customers that they made the right decision to choose you...even during a crisis. It’s an opportunity to promote your hard work and ability to adapt. In addition, Bowe Digital can help you develop a plan that works for your team. You can contact Bradley Erb at bradley@bowedigital.com with any questions concerning crisis management planning. We look forward to hearing from you!

When you are asked to tell your story, what comes to mind? For many, it can be an intimidating experience. If you are a small business owner, what is the story of your company? Can you define your brand?

When given the opportunity to attend my first ALTA ONE conference from the American Land Title Association, my thought was, “I’m not sure what I am getting into.” Being both new to marketing and the title industry after a career in teaching, I am after all the information I can get. Little did I know, I’d be presented with a lesson I’d want to pass on to all of you so quickly!

One of my first sessions was called Telling Your Story: Why It Matters to Your Business. I am a content writer for Bowe Digital, and we tell the stories of title companies (and other small businesses) across the country, and this session seemed right up my alley. 

Also, I recently attended an event and was asked to speak with vendors concerning their products and experiences. The goal was to collect information for our event planners/partners and to give each vendor a platform to present their stories. I was shocked to find that most vendors did not want to participate. Many didn’t know what to say and didn’t want to be recorded, but I considered it an opportunity missed. 

What was reinforced during Telling Your Story is that as a small business, it is important to figure out how your brand intersects with your audience. Where does your business story meet your customer’s story?

Mary O’Donnell, ALTA’s outgoing president and one of the presenters during this session, told the audience, “Your biggest single selling point is you. You are your brand.” It is important to personalize your business so customers recognize that it is a part of who you are. It’s a point Wayne and the rest of our team has always hammered home for our partners as well, but it was good to hear it from an industry leader. 

ALTA recently embarked on a marketing experience where its leadership walked through a process that eventually narrowed their business story down to one word...protection. (Check out this ALTA video that encompasses their journey.) As a team, they worked together to pinpoint exactly what it is they do as a company. 

At Bowe Digital, we’re here to tell every chapter of your story. Our innovative and fun story arc experience can help you find your voice, your brand, your purpose! As a small business owner, you are busy and drawn in many directions. We can walk beside you as you pinpoint why you are who you are, how that links to your business, and how all of it connects to your customers. Please contact Bradley Erb at bradley@bowedigital.com to initiate your story arc. You have a lot to say...let Bowe Digital help you say it.

“Do not try to do everything. Do one thing well.” -Steve Jobs

Being a business owner is more than a full-time job. It’s the realization of a dream that has been your focus, possibly for a long time. You know what you do, and you do it well.

Whether searching for the right insurance agent or the best popcorn in town, most of today’s customers begin their search online. Your net presence is often a customer’s first impression of you, and your brand should be on point.

Bowe Digital can get your message heard. As you focus on your business, our marketing specialists put a spotlight on your efforts, and we work hard, play hard and respect everyone as our team steps up to the marketing plate for you.

Wherever you are in your marketing plans, Bowe Digital can position your brand for success without breaking your budget. Just look at what we offer!

Bowe Digital offers all of this and so much more. You know your business, and we know marketing. Together, we make a dream team with one goal in mind…to take you to the next level. Contact our Business Development Manager Bradley Erb, or reach out to us through bowedigital.com. Trusting us with your marketing needs is a step up on the ladder to success.

Growing up in Galveston, Indiana, Kokomo was THE BIG CITY to me. When I heard my parents talking about “going to town,” it meant we were headed to Kokomo for the best adventures. We came here for everything exciting -- shopping for school clothes, eating out after church, (Anyone remember Duff’s Smorgasbord?) and the occasional movie.

When I met my husband at Ball State University, one thing we had in common was growing up in a small town. We got married and knew we wanted to raise our kids in a place that felt small but had all the big-city amenities.

Howard County was, and is, a perfect fit. We are proud to tell people that we are from Kokomo. Our first daughter, Jordan, graduated from IUK with an English degree, and our second daughter, Katie, is on her way to an elementary education degree. My husband, Jerry, is the sheriff of Howard County, and I have the privilege of working with Bowe Digital, a remote digital marketing company whose roots are all Kokomo. Led by founder Wayne M. Stanley, a 2004 graduate of Kokomo High School, more than a third of our team has ties to this great area.

One of my favorite things about Kokomo is the revitalization of our downtown area. There are restaurants, coffee shops, new YMCA, bookstores and the downtown library. I can go to Main Street Cafe for an Italian cream soda and head to Beyond Borders Bookstore in a matter of two city blocks, and I would pass (and probably enter) the Artworks Gallery by the Kokomo Art Association (These are personal recommendations. Full disclosure...none are Bowe Digital partners.) There is also a great chance I will meet a friend on the short walk.

All of the businesses mentioned above are locally owned and operated, and there are many great places to explore and discover. Bowe Digital wants to help small businesses create big-time marketing, advertising and communication. Our team can work with you (and your budget) to create a marketing strategy and increase your bottom line. In my time here, I’ve worked with partners from all over the country but would love to help businesses in this great community tell their story to new -- and old -- customers. We’re also proud members of the Greater Kokomo Chamber of Commerce.  

Bowe Digital’s mission is to support your needs and become part of your professional family. If you are interested in checking out what we have to offer, click the Let’s Talk button at the top of our home page. Wayne or Bradley Erb, who is our business development manager and another Kokomo native, will get back to you quickly! 

My city has so much to offer, and Bowe Digital can help you reach the Kokomo community and beyond. Bradley is currently visiting Chamber members, and he would love to stop by to show you all Bowe Digital has to offer. Schedule a meeting with Bradley today! We can help you become a first in the City of Firsts.

Bowe Digital is grateful for all of you during the last few months and takes immense pride in partnering with you. However, it’s time to get down to business, and that’s what we’re going to do today.

When customers of any kind start their search for products or services these days, most begin with one page -- Google. Google My Business (GMB) is a tool that can help all of us use search results to our advantage, and now is the time to take control of your Google My Business account if you haven’t already. COVID-19 has taught all of us the importance of quickly communicating changes to our customers, and a Google business listing is a great vehicle to easily do that.

Keeping your information up-to-date through GMB lets your customers know your current hours (Real estate never sleeps, but think about shops or restaurants), contact numbers, and special offers. You can add important images like a logo and photos to your account, and clients can add reviews. All of it will be included on Google for prospective clients to see. Important...yes! Free...yes!

Creating and claiming your profile is an important first step when getting started. The Google My Business page does an excellent job walking you through each portion of the process, but if you are looking for more specific, section-driven directions, check out How to Create, Claim and Verify Your Google Business Listing from ThriveHive.

After you have everything set up the way you like, it is important to circle back to your account at least once a month. It might be a good idea to add a reminder to your calendar. By updating your material consistently, you stay current for your customers. One last thing…while you’re fortifying your Google presence, you should ask for more reviews, too!

In an era where we Google everything, why would you risk missing a business opportunity when you can stay on top of things on the world’s most powerful search engine?