Summer Camp brings varying degrees of memories for many of us. For one camp in Central Texas needing assistance bringing marketing efforts back to life, we hope we’ve helped continue building memories for generations to come.

Many moons ago I attended my first pre-teen summer camp. My older sister had attended a few years, and now I was tagging along. I made it till Wednesday and with tears streaming, called home for mom to come get me.

Nevertheless, over the next few years, I gained an appreciation for camp during our hot Texas summers. I have fond memories, albeit the one I most remember involved a toilet, some “bigger” kids, and a poor “mouthy” soul who has a genuine understanding of a swirly.

Camp Cedarbrook Texas is located in the heart of Texas – Rosebud to be exact. It operates a week-long summer camp in beautiful country near the Brazos river between highway 77 and 6. Cedarbrook has a rich history of providing a fantastic Christian summer experience for kids 1st grade through high school. In fact, many campers have graduated to become volunteers for the new generation of kids.

However, Cedarbrook began to see attendance decline through the ever-growing competition of summer activities. The intuitive staff of Cedarbrook reached out to us to evaluate, optimize and revamp their marketing efforts. Cedarbrook needed to engage in the ever-changing and overwhelming world of digital marketing.

In our initial audit, we noted the need for a website revitalization. We created a UX that aimed for simpler navigation, modern, responsive graphics, a stronger video presence, and an intuitive registration process to target the 30-45-year-old parents with eligible kids. We also came up with processes that beefed up the backend communications to ease the work of the all-volunteer staff.

Finally, we introduced Cedarbrook to the wild wild world of marketing automation using open-source software called Mautic. Mautic allows us to send newsletter email blasts and rank/score recipients based on opens, clicks, and engagement. In other words, we meet the parents where they are in our marketing efforts rather than expecting them to come to us. Mautic also gives us insight into return visitors using smart, URL-tracking, lead-generating forms, and trigger notifications.

Though we’ve not reached summer 2019 to measure the results of our initial efforts, we’re excited at the dramatic difference thus far. We’ve got a few more tricks up our sleeves as well to continue driving parent/camper signups and volunteer recruiting.

The people of Cedarbrook Texas have a genuine heart to invest in the lives of our next generation. We’re glad we can lend a hand in continuing this legacy of admirable work.

I think I’m now in the mood to grab a guitar and sit by my fire.

 Visit Camp Cedarbrook Texas Website.

For over 40 years, the Central Texas area has been graced with the hardworking people of the accounting firm, Brockway, Gersbach, Franklin & Niemeier, P.C. With that many years behind them, BGFN is more than a local business. They’re a local institution – a staple in Temple, Texas.

As a current financial client of BGFN, we understand why 40 years has come and gone with ease. And BGFN is nowhere near stopping having hired a whole gaggle of millennial employees.

Last year, we were approached by the parters to revamp their website. The site was reworked in 2012, but had 2005 written all over it in design and functionality. With the influx of new, young Temple business owners – BGFN’s target market – a new website to reach this predominantly digital audience was due.

We know accountants are detailed (how did we not know?). So the site took time to craft and perfect. We went through a slew of revisions. But we are thrilled with the final product. We believe it is outstanding and captures the heart of the financial services and customer care offered by these dedicated accountants.

The project began with a slight logo enhancement to give it a fresh facelift. We then moved to website content curation. Our time and efforts were spent in depth here in order to carefully craft a solid message capturing the legacy of 40 years. Yet we wanted to maintaining the “family” atmosphere of the company.

The message is on point.

Finally, we made the site responsive, vibrant and interesting, which are all important characteristics in reaching the target audience. We added powerful, new lead capture forms for new clients and current clients alike.

We look forward to continuing this relationship of moving BGFN into the next 40 years. But who’s counting?!

 Visit BGFN Website.

We all love getting Christmas cards. Especially cards that seem to have intentionality in the design.

Creating a personal corporate Christmas card is difficult. The challenge lies in mass producing a card, yet incorporating the personal warmth of a holiday greeting.

Overcoming this challenge was our goal for the McLane Group’s annual Christmas card we conceived and designed for 2017. Each year, Temple, TX businessman (and local icon), Drayton McLane, Jr. sends out Christmas cards to his clients. The McLane Group owns 7 companies.

We believe the idea is a wonderful gesture. And after working with McLane to produce the artwork, we now know how important the detail and design of this project is to the organization.

Kinetic Inspiration

To produce this year’s art, we took inspiration from Texas-based Kinetic Sculpture artist Jim Lapaso‘s work that graces McLane’s Temple campus. Mr. McLane had two of Jim’s sculpture’s installed on the grounds. The shape of one of these sculptures, along with the tinted light that shines through it, and Texas sky in the background served as the foundation for our Christmas card.

Business cards, brochures, and websites are our bread and butter. So this was an intriguingly creative task. We welcomed it with open arms.

If we remember correctly, the response from the McLane staff was, “I think this is the fastest we’ve ever approved our Christmas card – ever.”

We like responses like that.