KMK Develops Ad Campaign for Riverside and Road Ranger

KMK Media Group, Inc. completed development of an advertising campaign for Riverside Community Bank, promoting the bank’s relationship with Road Ranger. The regional campaign utilizes traditional means of advertising: radio, television and print, as well as a presence on Facebook. Riverside Community Bank operates ATMs in more than 20 Rockford area Road Ranger convenience stores.

Riverside Community Bank has assets of more than $300 million with four banking centers and one of the largest ATM networks in the Rockford area. The bank offers a wide array of credit services, wealth management, investment services and deposit accounts, all with a focus on personal service. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.  www.riversidecommunity.com

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KMK to Develop Website for Miller Buettner & Parrott

KMK Media Group, Inc. has been hired to create a new corporate website for Miller Buettner & Parrott, Inc. KMK will also develop and implement an email marketing campaign for the company.

Miller Buettner & Parrott, Inc. is a full service employee benefits firm based in Rockford. Servicing more than 100 corporate and municipal clients, the company also specializes in working with area school districts.

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KMK Completes Graphic Design Work for United Way

KMK Media Group, Inc. recently completed graphic design and layout work for the United Way of Rock River Valley’s Strategic Planning Summary brochure. The brochure explains United Way’s future goals and the strategic steps being taken to achieve them. It will be shared with local United Way contributors and partnering organizations.

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Top 10 Tips for Creating Your New Corporate Website

Thinking about a new website?  Here are a few tips to keep in mind when starting down the path…
  1. Be in touch with your users so you know which information they will use the site for the most. Consider making those pages not only part of your navigational structure but called out as graphic buttons to help draw further attention to them.
  2. In following the first suggestion, create redundant links so you can get to the same page several different ways.
  3. Make sure you can get back to the home page from anywhere within the site and not by having to click on an inconspicuous company logo.  Make the home link say “home.”
  4. Avoid anything too flashy (pun intended).  It will frustrate the end user who just wants to get to the information quickly.
  5. Provide text-based links and graphical links both for people who may have turned off images on their browser and those who use images.
  6. Calendars of events can show a traditional date-driven calendar but should also have the option of showing a listing of events so users don’t have to click around the calendar trying to find a particular event.
  7. Keep top-level navigation to a handful of buttons.  Any more links on the home page than that will look cluttered and subsequently be more difficult to navigate.  Also, do your best to make most items on the website visible after 1-2 clicks, at most.
  8. Less is more.  People scan text on a website—write brief paragraphs that are conversational and easy to follow.  Use different colored or sized headings.
  9. Test…then test again.  Test your website before it launches in multiple web browsers, with multiple resolutions and using MAC’s and PC’s, as well as smart phones.  You’ll know if you need to make any tweaks before it goes live and you get irate users.
  10. Promote it.  Do the typical keywords and metatags.  Do send a press release to local media.  Do tell your clients.  Do put it in your email signature and employee/client newsletters.  Do tell the world!
www.kmkmedia.com - Doug burton

Doug Burton

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KMK Hires Brandon Houghton as Web Developer

KMK Media Group, Inc. hired Brandon Houghton as a Web Developer raising KMK’s total employee count to nine. He will assist in website programming, maintenance and support for KMK’s clients. Brandon is a graduate of Rockford College with a degree in management information systems and worked as an intern at KMK.  He is originally from Rock City, Illinois.

Brandon Houghton

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KMK Hired to Aid Mill Foundation with Grant Cycle Public Relations

KMK Media Group, Inc. will organize a press conference and prepare and distribute public relations materials for the Mill Foundation’s latest round of grant distributions. In May, the Mill Foundation will give away several thousand dollars to local non-profit organizations.

The Mill Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that provides funding to those programs and organizations which benefit the Rockford region’s disadvantaged youth, ultimately giving them the values, behaviors and life skills that will lead to responsible and productive lives. More information can be found at www.TheMillFoundation.org.

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KMK Develops Marketing Materials for Chemtool

KMK Media Group, Inc. completed marketing collateral materials for Chemtool Incorporated to be used with one of their largest manufacturing clients.

Chemtool, Inc., based in Rockton, is a global manufacturer of lubricants and specialty products. One of the largest of its kind in the world, Chemtool provides a wide variety of products that improve performance, extend service life and provide process improvements for its clients.

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KMK to Handle PR and Event Planning for Field Fastener

Field Fastener hired KMK Media Group, Inc. to plan and promote its upcoming groundbreaking ceremony. Field Fastener will add a 43,000 square foot addition to their facility in Machesney Park.

Field Fastener is a full service distributor of fastener products and global provider of inventory management systems.

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KMK Completes Message on Hold for New Vision Laser Center

KMK Media Group, Inc. recently completed development of a message on hold for Brightbill/Ericson Eye Associates New Vision Laser Center. KMK scripted, recorded and edited the message, which will be played for customers when they are waiting on hold.

New Vision Laser Center, located in Rockford, specializes in LASIK, corneal and cataract surgery, as well as glaucoma, contact lens services and cosmetic eye care. An on-site optical shop features more than 1,000 frame choices.

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Should My Company Have a Mobile Website?

A few of our clients have been inquiring lately about mobile websites and if their business would benefit from having one. Until recently, we probably would have been inclined to say, “yes.” However, there are many things to consider before investing time and money into a mobile site.

First, ask yourself, “How many people are going to view my site from their cell phone?” Think about your customers. Do they fall into the tech-savvy demographics? Think about your product or service. Will people need and want to access your information away from home?

If you answered yes to those questions, look at your current site on a mobile device. Does it really look that bad? Does it load quickly? Is your pertinent information easy to access? Keep in mind that each new smartphone that comes out closes the gap between phone and computer a little more. Displays are better, processors faster.

Smartphones are certainly not going away. In fact, according to Nielsen, by the end of this year, smartphones will overtake plain old cell phones in the market. So, if this post has you deciding not to go mobile with your site, there are some things you can do with your current website to make it more smartphone friendly.

  1. Don’t overload your page with fancy graphics and animations that may slow mobile users.
  2. Make that pertinent info we mentioned EASY to find. This will benefit home and mobile users alike.
www.kmkmedia.com - Doug burton

Doug Burton

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KMK Hired to Promote Young at Heart Festival

KMK Media Group, Inc. has been hired to perform various marketing activities to promote this year’s Young at Heart Festival to be held in Loves Park May 27-30. KMK will design brochures, posters and print ads, as well as develop a radio spot. KMK will also handle the event’s public relations and social media, and purchase media to promote the festival.

The Young at Heart Festival is put on every year by the Parks Chamber of Commerce and includes live music, carnival rides, events, contests and food.

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KMK Hired by Magnuson Industries

KMK Media Group, Inc. has been hired by Magnuson Industries to develop and implement an email marketing campaign. KMK will also provide set-up and strategy for the company’s social media.

Magnuson Industries, located in Rockford, manufactures and distributes various bar and restaurant supplies and accessories. The company developed and patented the original ball bearing portion control pourer, known as the “Posi-Pour.”

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Woman-Owned Businesses Thriving in Rockford

Here at KMK, we work with a wide variety of businesses, but also a variety of business owners. We’ve recently had the pleasure of working with several women who own and run very successful companies.

Anderson Environmental & Engineering is an environmental consulting and engineering firm located in Rockford and owned by Jennifer Anderson. We put together a comprehensive marketing plan for Jennifer and we look forward to implementing it this year.

Continental Antiques is a longtime Rockford business occupying a 27,000 square foot showroom, which houses thousands of antiques. Owner, Daniella Swaab brings back these antiques from Europe on her many trips abroad. We are in the process of developing a new website and online catalog for the company. We will also be handling Continental’s public relations.

Kitchens by Diane recently celebrated its first year in business. Owner, Diane Feuillerat has more than 25 years of experience designing kitchens, baths and specialty rooms. In that time she has completed more than 600 new and remodeled rooms, won 16 Industry Cutting Edge Awards and has had more than 25 kitchens featured in the Dine by Design Junior League Tours and annual Parade of Homes. We are handling Diane’s public relations and are in the process of developing a message on hold for the store.

It’s great to see not only businesses, but woman-owned businesses thriving in the Rockford area. Obviously, these competent and intelligent ladies are smart enough to realize the value of good marketing and we thank them for that!

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KMK Completes Website for Galleon

KMK Media Group completed a website for Galleon Strategic Partners, a worldwide management consulting firm based in Colorado. The site can be found at www.galleonpartners.com.

Galleon serves a wide range of business clients and helps them analyze and improve their processes to achieve greater efficiency and profitability.

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KMK Develops Graphics for Fridh

KMK Media Group, Inc. developed a variety of collateral materials to be used by Fridh Corporation at an upcoming realtors’ open house the company is hosting. The graphics package includes various presentation materials showcasing the commercial properties Fridh has to offer, as well as branded promotional items to be given away at the open house. A series of three follow-up postcards were also created by KMK.

Fridh Corporation is a family-owned business dating back 95 years specializing in the investment, development and management of commercial real estate.

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KMK Develops Recruitment Campaign for Rockford Police

KMK Media Group, Inc. has developed a recruitment campaign for the Rockford Police Department. The campaign development is grant-funded and includes radio, television, print and billboard advertisements, as well as messaging and photography. Ads will run throughout Northern Illinois and into the Chicago area.

The campaign was created to show potential recruits the variety of positions and opportunities the department has to offer.

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KMK to Develop Graphics for Schlatter

Schlatter North America has asked KMK Media Group, Inc. to develop graphics for the company’s booth at the Interwire 2011 trade expo, to be held May 2-5 in Atlanta. Interwire is the largest and longest-running wire and cable show in America. It is an international trade event that includes exhibiting companies, speakers, and attendees from more than 50 countries around the world.

KMK will also develop and implement an email marketing campaign for Schlatter to communicate with its customers and vendors.

Schlatter North America is located in Rockford and provides sales, service and technical support to the reinforcing and industrial wire product industries. They are a subsidiary of Switzerland-based Schlatter Group AG, a global company specializing in manufacturing for resistance welding systems and weaving machines.

Schlatter North America has asked KMK Media Group, Inc. to develop graphics for the company’s booth at the Interwire 2011 trade expo, to be held May 2-5 in Atlanta. Interwire is the largest and longest-running wire and cable show in America. It is an international trade event that includes exhibiting companies, speakers, and attendees from more than 50 countries around the world.

KMK will also develop and implement an email marketing campaign for Schlatter to communicate with its customers and vendors.

Schlatter North America is located in Rockford and provides sales, service and technical support to the reinforcing and industrial wire product industries. They are a subsidiary of Switzerland-based Schlatter Group AG, a global company specializing in manufacturing for resistance welding systems and weaving machines.

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KMK Hired by Pierce Laminated Products, Inc.

Pierce Laminated Products, Inc. hired KMK Media Group, Inc. to redevelop its website for an improved look and increased functionality. The site will have a new design, additional information and allow the company to easily update and edit its own content. KMK will also help develop and implement an email marketing campaign.

Pierce Laminated Products, Inc. has been designing and installing award-winning countertops for more than 50 years. Offering the largest selection of countertop materials in the northern Illinois area, Pierce is also a certified Corian and Cambria Quartz fabricator and installer.

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KMK Helps Pearson with Social Media

KMK Media Group, Inc. is guiding Pearson, a heating, cooling and pest control firm, in its social media efforts. As part of an overall strategy, KMK developed a custom welcome page that encourages visitors to become fans of Pearson. Benefits of becoming a fan include special offers, coupons and contests such as Pearson’s latest xBox giveaway.

For nearly 60 years Pearson has provided quality and friendly service to the Northern Illinois area. Pearson offers plumbing, heating, air conditioning, pest control, remodeling services and more. For more information, call 815.398.8312 or go to PearsonGuy.com or facebook.com/pearsonguy.

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QR Codes: Bridging the Gap

Whether you were aware of it or not, you’ve probably seen a QR (quick response) code in a company’s marketing materials or advertising. They look like this…

…and they’re everywhere. They are somewhat similar to the bar codes you find on most products you purchase, but QR codes can be linked to nearly anything on the Internet.

QR codes allow your audience to bridge the gap between the real and digital worlds. What they see in your print ad can instantly take them to your website for more information or to your social media page for a special deal.

According to Mobio, an international mobile payments and marketing company, QR code scanning has risen 1200% in the last six months of 2010. If you don’t know what a QR code is, here’s a brief look at what they are and how to use them.

To use QR codes, all you need is a smartphone with a camera and the proper software downloaded onto it (BeeTagg has a program that works on most phones). Once opened, the program will show a screen very similar to your camera screen. Allow the camera to hover over and focus on the code and it will quickly prompt you to accept the link. QR codes are able to link to a number of things including websites and social media, as well as email, phone numbers and online coupons.

QR codes are incredibly versatile, too. Anywhere you put your logo, you can put a QR code: from basic print ads or business cards to employee uniforms and cocktail napkins. Codes can be scanned from computer and television screens, as well. You can even get a code embedded onto a scarf!

With a little creativity, the possibilities with this new technology are endless. To see what QR codes can do for your business call Pam at 815.399.2805 or email pam@kmkmedia.com.

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