You’ve done the back-to-school shopping with your kiddos, teachers have shared their Amazon wishlists and set up their classrooms, and now it’s time to focus on you. However, just like the kids have ditched cursive writing for learning on laptops, you’ve traded in long commutes for remote work. Bowe Digital can help you become a remote-work pro, but today, we’re taking a page out of our teachers’ book.
Teachers, we salute you! Not only for educating our little ones but also for taking them off our hands for a while. We admire your organizational skills, patience and knack for making your classrooms both functional and inspirational.
While some of us may want to leave sharing Amazon wishlists to the teachers (they deserve it), these Amazon finds will help you revamp your home office space.
The Remote Worker’s Ultimate Amazon Wishlist:
Since you’re likely spending most of your workdays in it, a comfortable chair is non-negotiable. You can level up your existing chair with lumbar support pads and seat cushions like this CloudBliss seat cushion, or you can sit criss-cross applesauce like the kids with options like this aesthetic chair and this ergonomic one.
For the days you don't want to get out of bed, leave the couch or the pool lounger, portable desk stands like this LapGear Lap Desk can make it easier to work from wherever you want.
When the bus pulls up at the end of the day and the front door swings open, you can stay in the zone and block out the chaos (whether your work day is over or not - we won’t tell) with noise-canceling headphones. Try this budget-friendly option from JBL, or splurge on these Sony headphones.
In case working from home wasn’t hard enough, some people are adding walking from home to their resumes, too. Walking pads, or portable treadmills, have become a trend among remote workers on TikTok. You, too, can get your steps in while you work by purchasing a walking pad like this one. Of course, having a standing desk like this adjustable one by WOKA will make multitasking a bit easier.
No windows in your at-home office space? No problem. Achieve the perfect lighting for Zoom calls, video recordings and more with a clip on ring light. Try this dimmable option.
If you’re worried about your FBI agent watching your every move (if you know, you know), a sliding webcam cover like this one can help give you peace of mind and a little extra privacy when the cameras aren’t (supposed) to be rolling.
Whether you’re trying to savor your morning coffee or you're just too busy to drink it before it gets cold, a mug warmer can keep it hot. Try this wireless one.
…Because we think they should be part of every work from home uniform. After all, working from home allows you to be business up top and comfort down below. Here are a few cozy slippers you should add to your cart: Ankis Fuzzy Memory Foam Slippers, Men’s Memory Foam Slippers and Retro Smiley Face Slippers.
We hope you and your kids have an amazing school year! At Bowe Digital, we’re passionate about what we do and can work with any budget. Contact Bradley Erb on our team at bradley@bowedigital.com to discuss your marketing goals! Learn more about our services at bowedigital.com.
Listen up! No, really. Pop on your headphones or connect to your car’s Bluetooth during your next drive because you don’t want to miss what Wayne Stanley had to say about marketing on the FNF Unplugged podcast.
The Fidelity National Financial Family of Companies’ Unplugged podcast was created to spark conversations with professionals across the country – exploring business topics and empowering personal growth in real estate, financial services and the title industry. In May, our Owner and Chief Inspiration Officer joined FNF’s marketing guru, Linda Grahovec, on the podcast for a two-part marketing series. Wayne has spent over 15 years in the marketing space. While his prior job experience and connections have helped Bowe Digital carve a niche in the land title industry, we work with small businesses ranging from mom-and-pop flower shops and small accounting firms to storage facilities, little bodegas, car washes and everything in between.
PART 1
In part one of the two-part series, Linda and Wayne discuss the importance of setting SMART marketing goals and explain how they help to shape your overall marketing strategy and guide your marketing plan (emphasis on guide because it should be flexible). Don’t worry…Wayne starts by defining what each is and what factors to consider. For example, who can give you more business this year? Versus who can give you any business at all this year? It’s okay to think big as long as you start small and uncover which individuals or groups you should focus on.
Sounds good, right? But if you don’t have a dedicated sales or marketing team, you’re probably wondering who this responsibility falls to. The two marketing experts go over the biggest obstacles in marketing and share ideas on how to get through them. Wayne touches on topics from your team’s role in market research, the budget-friendly tools and solutions available to you, how to take action on your ideas and the importance of testing messages, using the analogy “your marketing isn’t a gumball machine.” You can’t put a quarter in and expect to get the flavor you want on the first try. Marketing takes time, and your audience’s flavor preferences are constantly changing, so being able to pivot is key.
Listen to the full podcast here.
PART 2
It's time to start thinking beyond your website and focus on visuals in other mediums. In part two of the marketing series, Wayne talks about what’s working in today’s market and what’s not. He states that the four biggest marketing wins he’s seeing right now are marketing emails, LinkedIn posts, videos and public relations. But what kind of content works for each? And how often should you be sending them to your customers? Wayne shares the answers to these questions as well as the tools making content creation and design more accessible for non-marketing professionals. Those tools include Chat GPT (use with caution), Canva, Pixabay and his personal favorite, Gratisography.
Linda also sparks a conversation about how a business decides to hire someone internally versus hiring a company like Bowe Digital. While there’s no clear formula, it all ties back to your marketing goals and what you want to accomplish. Think about your work culture. Will an internal marketing person get pulled in different directions and put marketing on the back burner? Are you going to edit the “happy” to “glad” to get things just right? If so, is an external company willing to work shoulder-to-shoulder with you? What will the working relationship look like? Asking and answering these questions can help you make the right decision for your business. However, in most cases, an outside agency will probably be more cost-effective.
Listen to the full podcast here.
Also, here's a quick bonus read: https://bit.ly/3N8q7Cr!
Wayne Stanley and the rest of our Bowe Digital team are passionate about marketing, and we don’t believe in gatekeeping. Whether you work with our team or not, we’re always happy to discuss your business goals, talk about what’s happening in the market and help you brainstorm ideas. Contact Bradley Erb on our team at bradley@bowedigital.com and start putting your big ideas into action! Learn more about our services at bowedigital.com.
After a long or stressful day at work, sometimes you just need something strong to help take the edge off. So take a seat at the Bowe Digital bar, and order a drink. We’ll mix it up; your drink choice will say a lot about your business’s marketing.
Today’s Cocktail List:
Old Fashioned
Wayne’s Hot Tip: Wayne’s tip for the best Old Fashioned, beyond great bourbon, is the cherry and he loves this brand most.
It’s in the name…Old Fashioned. An Old Fashioned is a straightforward and strong drink with no surprises. For many people, it does not go down easy, which is not a good thing when it comes to drinking or marketing. Old-fashioned marketing is as plain as the water that goes into the drink. It does not change with the times and isn’t as popular with younger crowds. If you’re not using social media or incorporating video and eye-catching graphics into your marketing, this might be the drink for you.
However, we recommend you keep browsing the list for a new cocktail.
Whiskey Sour
The Whiskey Sour is loved by some and hated by others. It’s controversial for its sour taste and that optional egg white (because why??). It’s a risk, which in marketing doesn’t always pay off. However, it works better in some industries than others. The fast food restaurant Wendy’s, for example, has seen success from its sassy personality on Twitter, which you can find examples of here. The restaurant bravely roasts its customers and competing companies, which earns them varied responses. If this sounds like your marketing, then we suggest you chug, in case it goes too sour!
Margarita
Heather’s Hot Tip: If you’re like Heather, you want a Marg with less sugar. She suggests you skip the pre-mix stuff. The best marg is tequila, fresh lime juice and a tajin rim.
The Margarita is fun; it has no rules. Like great marketing, it can be customized to the customer likes. We can make them sweet, skinny or spicy. We can salt or sugar the rim, offer different flavors and put them in any glass you’d like. Not a tequila drinker? Try vodka. If your marketing is one-of-a-kind and tailored to reflect the likes and dislikes of your audience, then cheers! This is the drink for you and for us, too!
At Bowe Digital, the margarita is our specialty. We can make it any way you’d like. Our team of experts stays up-to-date on trends and knows what works to make a perfectly balanced marketing strategy that isn’t old-fashioned or too sour. Contact me, Bradley Erb at bradley@bowedigital.com to mix up a custom marketing plan that’s unique to your business! Learn more about our services at bowedigital.com.
You know when your mom used to make you clean the whole house anytime people were coming over? Well, this is kind of like that…
We’re acting as Mom here and telling you to tidy up your website so that your guests keep coming back. Your website is the home for your story and services; it’s also your chance to make a great first impression. When you want a clean house, you call a maid. When you want a clean website, you call Bowe Digital!
We can help make your website sparkling clean with our 3-step website creation process, but first, let’s talk about what makes a website stand out from the ones next door.
This article lists 7 qualities of a great website. Here are 4 that stand out:
Well-Designed and Functional
Your website should have white space and breaks. It should be uncluttered, Marie Kondo style, with quality photographs and graphics to let your message shine through. See this website we designed for Golden Dog Title & Trust. Your users won’t stick around if it’s hard to navigate or if there are issues with speed and functionality.
Optimized for Mobile
Most users look at your website from their phones, so in our best mom voice, we say, “There are no excuses.” With the growth of digital technology and devices, your website should look great and work well on any platform.
Fresh, Quality Content
It’s time to renovate! Your website should use language that makes sense to your audience and avoid corporate jargon. Visitors have short attention spans so correct spelling, accuracy, relevance and frequent updates with fresh content (videos, blogs, social, etc.) are vital to improving SEO and organic traffic. Take a look at Amerititle’s, blog. As their trusted partner, we keep the information posted here current and fresh.
Optimized for Search and the Social Web
Imagine you get your website prepped and ready for visitors, but no one shows up. To grow your guest list, your content needs to be well tagged, contain searchable words, have a decluttered HTML code and be easily shareable.
If your website isn’t hitting these marks or you’re not sure if it stands out from the website next door…don’t worry! The Bowe Digital team can help clean it up! Visit bowedigital.com/contact-us to learn more about our 3-step website creation process and our website hosting services!
What do Crocs and our founder and chief inspiration officer, Wayne Stanley’s childhood dreams, have in common? They both made a comeback in 2017. While Crocs were trending in fashion and people were jamming out to Ed Sheeran’s hit song, Shape of You, Wayne Stanley was making his entrepreneurial dreams a reality.
This week marks five years since Bowe Digital made its’ debut in 2017. In the five years since, we’ve accomplished a lot and made tons of memories, friends and amazing partners along the way.
Here are 5 things we’re proud of in the 5 years since Bowe Digital began.
1. Being named #12 on the Best Places to Work in Indiana list
Landing the #12 spot on the Best Places to Work in Indiana list this year was HUGE! We’re super fortunate to have a team that brags about our company as much as they do, but this award speaks for itself. Compiled by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, the Best Places to Work awards are based on anonymous employee surveys with questions about company culture, pay, diversity, and more. We’ve learned first hand that happy employees produce better satisfied partners and productivity.
2. Making a name for ourselves in the title industry
Our company has carved a niche in the land title insurance industry, and we’ve made a name for ourselves through our outreach by attending and speaking at events like NS3, ALTA HOP and ALMA Agency Seminars. Even if most of you think that our name is Bowe Digital (Bow-ie) and not Bowe Digital (Bow)...we forgive you. We are proud to set the standard and serve title and real estate companies across the U.S., and we feel lucky that companies outside of title and real estate have trusted us, too.
3. Offering our customers custom solutions
The Bowe Digital difference is that all of our marketing, communications and advertising strategies are 100% custom. Forget pre-made templates… we recognize what makes you unique and start from scratch to produce original content that’s branded to fit your needs and meet your standards. We pride ourselves on being an extension of your team. Our goal is to deliver on your vision for connecting with your customers and making an impact in your industry.
4. Encouraging our team members to learn and grow
Since getting our start in 2017, we have always encouraged the members of our team to set educational and professional goals and to never stop learning. Pushing our team to further their expertise and career helps them to better serve our partners. It’s a win-win. We’re proud to share that our entire team is Hubspot certified by Hubspot Academy and that almost all the members of our team have been certified as ALTA HOP Leaders with eight earning that certificate this year.
5. Growing the Bowe Digital family
Half of businesses fail in the first five years according to the Small Business Administration, but not Bowe Digital. Despite being tested by the pandemic in 2020, our company grew faster than ever, providing the best service and support to our growing list of partners. What started as five teammates and a dream of helping a few trusting partners, has evolved into a team of almost 20 full-time employees, serving nearly 200 partners. Our team truly is a family - it means everything to us - and we treat our partners like family, too!
Like Crocs, Bowe Digital likes to make a statement. We provide our partners comfort with a bold look that customers can’t miss, and while we’d like to give Crocs all the credit, we can’t. We really owe it all to Wayne and to his grandparents, Shirley and Glen Vernon Bowe who inspired him and inspired more than just the name of this company. We honor them each day by sticking to the promise to work hard, play hard, and respect everyone. We can’t believe it’s been five years, and we’re raising a glass to the next five…and the five after that…and the five after that! Visit bowedigital.com to learn more about our story, and join us in celebrating five years by partnering with us!
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:
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!
The Bowe Digital team had the best time at ALTA ONE! It’s always invigorating to see several of our partners and friends in one place, and Wayne loves catching up with his old colleagues from the American Land Title Association.
If you were there, we hope you got a chance to stop by our booth. (We were in the middle of Market ONE room, so it was hard to miss us with our friend, Shane, from BombBomb.) We also loved the speaker at the first Omni Session, Sekou Andrews. The presenters were great the entire week, but the spoken word poet/motivational speaker’s message certainly resonated with us. Andrews latched onto the “defy convention” theme. Using a little wordplay, Andrews told us to embrace new ideas and to not be afraid to splash around and create a “Title Wave.” He challenged the crowd to be “bold enough to share who you are” with your potential customers.
Since storytelling is a big part of what we do at Bowe Digital, our team silently applauded that line from the audience. In fact, if you’re ready to put Andrews’ words in action for your company, we’d love to be the ones to help you tell your story better. Wayne was also one of presenters of one of the breakout sessions. He talked about digital marketing (of course).
Reminding the crowd that there is no “silver bullet” marketing solution, Wayne and his co-presenter, Dean Collura, gave five tips when it comes to improving your company’s digital presence with a multi-channel approach. Those five tips were:
Huge congrats go out to Cynthia Blair too! She officially became the ALTA president for 2018-19, succeeding our friend Steve Day of Fidelity National Title Group. We know Cynthia, who is one of the founders of Blair Cato Pickren Casterline in South Carolina, will use her tenure to continue to do great things for ALTA and the entire land title insurance industry.
Splash, splash!
Ready to reconnect with Bowe Digital, no matter if we met in LA or way before then? Great! Contact us today.
Happy fall, y’all.
October is certainly busy for us, just like it is for so many of you! We’re putting the finishing touches on a new www.bowedigital.com and gearing up for ALTA ONE, the national conference put on by the American Land Title Association.
It’s going to be great to talk to so many of our partners, and Wayne will be co-presenting a session called, “Are You Speaking To Me? A Blueprint for 5 Must Have Digital Marketing Channels.” We’ll give you a recap of what he says and everything else that we learn during the conference for you. We’re sure we’ll pick up lots of things we can use for our non-land title partners and future customers too.
For those of you joining our team at ALTA ONE in California, Wayne’s talk happens on Oct. 10 (that’s Wednesday) at 10:30 a.m. Be sure to stop by the Bowe Digital booth during the week too. We’ll have lots of cool stuff, and we love meeting new people. (Old friends are always welcome to stop and chat too.)
We’ve gotten lots of compliments on our first website during our first year in business. It will always have a place in our hearts, but we can’t wait to show you the new BoweDigital.com. It’s just so warm and inviting. You’ll see the faces of the entire Bowe Digital team sprinkled throughout, and even though some of us were nervous about the photoshoot, the pictures turned out great.
The new site also better highlights why Wayne named the company Bowe Digital. (Hint, it’s to honor his grandfather.) There has always been a blurb about Bowe on our page, but the redesign truly showcases it. We love that!
Our website redesign is a great example of what we can do for our partners. Anything can be improved and honed. Don’t wait until you’re behind to figure out how you can do something better. If you have any marketing desires you’d like to see become a reality, contact Bowe Digital today.
Mergers and acquisitions are huge steps for any company to take. Media relations during an acquisition or merger are crucial. Bowe Digital can help make the transition smooth for your business and ensure success. Let's talk today about what we can do to help with any future merger or acquisitions.
From press releases and media relations to advertisements and social media content, we've got you covered.
You need a pro. Put a Bowe on it.
Click here to contact us today.
Unless you've been living under a very peaceful rock, you've noticed that the title insurance industry is in a major transition. New, more tech-savvy homebuyers are changing the industry by researching online and shopping around for different title companies. While every industry professional has noticed these changes, many are too busy to explore new forms of customer interaction. You've heard the calls to market yourself in new ways and harness social media, but how do you get started? Bring your title company into the 21st century with these three steps.
1. Meet your potential customers wherever they are.
In 2018, that obviously means investing in tools that maximize your exposure. But simply being there and utilizing the web for peak marketability are two different things. We want you to do the latter.
Verify your business on Google
Google is obviously the king of the internet as the most visited website in the world. "Google" as a verb has been in our vocabulary for years. This will be the first place a new home buyer goes to figure out what title insurance is, if you have any ratings from past customers and why they should pay you for your services, so your business should be prominently promoted with its own page. If you really want to harness customer ratings, contact us today.
Perfect a Facebook page
Pretty much everyone in the United States has a Facebook page, which means your business probably has one too. In fact, 2.2 billion people around the world use Facebook. But are you using it effectively? Make sure you have enough information in your "About" section to hook people who are browsing your page and make sure Facebook messages are enabled so customers can get in touch easily. Remember, Facebook might be the first time potential clients are looking at your business, so make a great initial impression! If you really want to set yourself apart, let's talk about developing a Chat Bot for your Facebook page!
Make a Linkedin page
Linkedin is no longer just for job seekers, it's also the place to update consumers with news about your business and your industry. It's a great venue to market yourself as a thought leader in the title industry and allows your employees to act as ambassadors for your business with their personal pages. We can help with creating too—let's talk.
Claim your Yelp page
As the top review site, Yelp is extremely important to your company's online brand. An unclaimed Yelp page can be even worse than bad reviews because it seems like your business doesn't even exist!
97% of consumers use the internet to find a business and 84% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Modern consumers don't want to complete such an important transaction with a company they can't find on any one of these sites. To ensure you aren't left in the internet dust, get a Bowe Digital digital checkup of your online presence today.
2. Ask for reviews
If the last paragraph inspired you to verify your business on Google, that's a great start. But your new page won't be its most effective without reviews because they can influence your rankings on Google searches. if you want to ramp this ranking up, contact the five best consumers that you've worked with in the past month and ask them to leave a review on any one of your new pages. Also remember, it's not just Google potential customers are finding you on. Good Facebook and Yelp reviews will entice people who know nothing else about you to check you out. No matter the platform, these testimonials provide legitimacy to your business listing.
3. Create content explaining WHY
Now that new consumers can find you and past clients are raving about you, it's time for you to communicate more directly. Create content that explains why they need title insurance and why they should select your company. Videos, social media posts and short, punchy blogs are the best ways to connect with and inform your consumers. Once you start creating content, a consistent social media strategy is key. You are much more likely to reach consumers by posting several times per week rather than a couple times a month.
Patrick Russo is a summer intern at Bowe Digital. He recently graduated from the University of Maryland with degrees in Marketing and Government and Politics. As part of the fourth generation of his family to in the title industry, Patrick has been hearing about title for his entire life. Now he loves to write about it. Intrigued by what Patrick just said but need a little help getting everything started? Bowe Digital wants to help! Contact us today at contact@bowedigital.com.
