Sherri Janson Stenman has joined the creative team at Abrams Advertising, a Montrose-based advertising and marketing firm. Sherri will be the Project Director for the Abrams Eagle-based office, serving Vail to Aspen and national clients.

Before joining Abrams, Sherri ran Circle Creative Communications, her Communications Services business, from Eagle, Snowmass Village, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. She was also previously a Communications Manager at Ford Motor Company’s Public Affairs Organization, working with the Advanced Engineering group on internal and external marketing and public relations, as well as the North American International Auto Show.

Other professional experience includes working as the Corporate Communications Manager at Borders Group and as a Communications Specialist for General Motors Corporation and Virtual Services Corporation.

Sherri holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Relations from Michigan State University, and is a member of The Association for Women in Communications. She lives in Eagle with her three children and husband, Scott, and is a professional multi-media artist, fiction writer and yoga instructor.

by Sherri Janson Stenman

Cutting corners is essential to the survival of many businesses right now, but completely dumping your marketing budget to reduce costs could be a fatal mistake. By advertising your “updated” services with discounts or promotional programs, it attracts the attention of bargain hunters and increases not only your business traffic, but it elevates your value in the eyes of your consumers.

“This is the time to modify operational rules a bit to keep people using your services,” said Jill Smirl, Owner of Mom’s Best Friend Agency, a local nanny and domestic service placement company based in Vail. “Instead of turning customers away because they are reluctant to commit to a minimum amount of hours for using my babysitters, I’ve found that by being flexible with that requirement right now keeps my sitters working and makes the customers happy…it benefits us all.”

Changing business hours, offering coupons, hosting special events – these are all ways you can turn the heads of potential new customers and keep the faithful ones coming back. An email marketing campaign is a great way to stay in touch with the public and let them know about your new incentives. Likewise, a “free” event at your business or for a local charity can be done on a small budget, but grabs people’s attention and gives you an opportunity to tell them about your discount specials.

“We keep our website fresh with our new specials,” said Christine Freed, Owner of www.purenaturaltouch.com, an organic skincare product provider based in Montrose,  Colorado. “We feature our new promotions and sale items on our site, then we do an email ad to let people know. Customers shop on our site and use the emailed code for discounts.”

Small, local businesses can stay competitive during these penny-pinching times by connecting with their communities and offering “locals” discounts, as well. Don’t give up seeking a spotlight for your service or product just to eliminate some costs…this may be the best time to gain new customers looking for a deal!

Sherri Janson Stenman runs the Eagle-based office of Abrams Advertising., (970) 497-3216, www.abramsadvertising.com

Abrams Advertising Launches New Office to Serve Local and National Businesses

March 1, 2010 – People around Vail and Aspen are scratching their heads, wondering the name of the new mountain that’s been recently visible in their valleys. A familiar site to us Southwestern Coloradans, our towering beauty Mt Abrams has been spotted northeast of here, silhouetted on the logo of Abrams Advertising. This week, a piece of the San Juans captured their attention when the Montrose-based marketing firm shared news of the launching of its new office in Eagle.

“Opening this satellite office in Eagle will allow us to offer Abrams Advertising’s outstanding creative services to businesses from Aspen to Vail,” said Josh Freed, Owner of Abrams. “We’re confident that our services will be very competitive in those areas and bring something unique to their existing advertising options.”

Established in 2008, Abrams Advertising has rapidly evolved from a small, local business to a nationally recognized marketing firm, with clients ranging from Colorado Vacation sites, local Chambers of Commerce, to five-star resorts, to Beverly Hills luxury service providers. Abrams marketing services include budget implementation, contract negotiation, website design, graphic design, Search Engine Structure, lead generation, and sales evaluation…and their reputation for personal service, professionalism and innovation has earned Abrams many newly referred clients.

Sherri Janson Stenman, who is the Project Manager of the new Eagle-based Abrams office, said: “I was a business client of Abrams before joining their team, and what won me over is their incredible range of creative ideas and a sophisticated knowledge of technology that is tough to beat. I know we’ll be a great resource for businesses in these markets.”

*Update – Abrams Advertising’s newest office will be available to the public September 2010.

Please contact Sherri Stenman at sherri@abramsadvertising, 970-497-3216, for more information about Abrams Advertising marketing services. Online at www.AbramsAdvertising.com
Download this Press Release: Click Here

Is your website a lead-generation machine? Your website can be your most powerful marketing tool, delivering a steady stream of new business leads and filling your sales pipeline.

Unfortunately, most companies do not setup their websites for lead capturing—offering, instead, nothing more than an online brochure. Review the following 10 questions, and give yourself one point for each Yes answer.

1. Does your homepage clearly deliver what your company does and the audiences you serve? _____ Yes _____ No

First impressions count, and more people will see your home page than any other page on your website. So, make sure your home page is as welcoming and useful as possible. It should clearly communicate your capabilities and the solutions your company provides. Moreover, it should provide a timely digest of the latest and greatest information you offer deeper within the site. Most important, it should focus on your prospects’ needs and serve to guide them through your website to find the information that can best help them.

2. Do you use a conversational tone in your website’s copy? _____ Yes _____ No

People think their website is designed to serve the thousands of people that will visit it. The reality is that one person will visit your website at a time. Make sure you connect with each visitor by taking a friendly, conversational tone in your copy. Write as though you’re sitting with them over coffee. Demonstrate that you understand the challenges they face and offer a solution.

3. Do you offer useful educational content in addition to product and service information? _____ Yes _____ No

Don’t just sell, educate. Complement your product and service information with valuable educational information that help your customers.

4. Is your website structured for top ranking in the search engines? _____ Yes _____ No

Search engines such as Google are your best source for targeted, motivated leads. Your prospects are searching for you. Make it easy for them to find you by boosting your rank in the search engines. To turn your website into a search-engine magnet, fill your website’s copy with the keyword phrases your customers use most often. In addition, build a network of quality inbound links to your website from reputable and industry-relevant external websites.

5. Are you updating your website’s content on a consistent basis? _____ Yes _____ No

Is your latest press release from 2008?  People want to do business with dynamic companies. Make it a point to take a critical look at your website at least monthly, and add or remove information to improve its value to your customers and prospects.

6. Does every page of your website include a call to action? _____ Yes _____ No

Don’t make the mistake of relying on your Contact Us page as the sole method for prospects to take action. To turn your website into a lead-generation machine, pepper your website with a variety of relevant calls to action inviting prospects to reach out and take the next step. “Note the Blue Buttons!”

7. Do your calls to action address customers at each stage of the buying cycle? _____ Yes _____ No

Not everyone is ready to buy from you today. Some people are kicking tires; others may have a basic early-stage question. Look for ways to compel all prospects to reach out to you by offering tailored calls to action that appeal to customers at each stage of the buying process.

8. Is your phone number displayed on every page of your website? _____ Yes _____ No

Don’t forget to prominently display your phone number on every page of your website.

9. Are your online forms short, asking only for basic contact information? _____ Yes _____ No

Are your online lead-generation forms as long and daunting as a tax return? If so, shorten them. The more fields your forms include, the less likely prospects will be to fill them out.

10. Do you have a process in place to ensure your website inquiries receive immediate follow-up? _____ Yes _____ No

How long does it take for your salespeople to follow up on online lead inquiries? If the follow-up is not immediate, you are leaving money on the table.

So How Did You Do?

If you scored a 7 or higher, you’re doing well, and your website is a powerful lead-generation tool. However, if you scored a 6 or below, you have some work to do.

*Source Site: Abrams Advertising, MarketingProfs – Bob DeStefano

A last minute request to design, layout, and image correct a portfolio for a very talented architect. This portfolio needed to define “Subtle Elegance”. Featuring high-end properties, a luxury golf course, and many special projects. Formatted at 8.5in x 11in, this portfolio showcases the client’s personal taste.

Help Spread the Word!

At Abrams Advertising, we support the work of the non-profit organizations that keep our communities strong.

Our Website Giveaway program invites you to help us recognize the stories of deserving non-profit groups.

With each giveaway we will be highlighting the work of a deserving non-profit organizations and making a website donation valued at over $4,000 to the winners selected by public vote.

Go to giveaway.abramsadvertising.com for more information!

We are proud to announce the launching of the all new www.MontroseVacation.com!

This website features a fresh and visually exciting approach to information delivery and social interaction.  This site has custom contact and information request forms, a unique content building network, first-hand user experiences, live social marketing feeds, attractive and useful visual aids, business mapping, and dynamic photo galleries. It also has display ads in static and flash-based formats, business social article writing, and live local web camera feeds that are expandable.

Check It Out!

Abrams Advertising is beginning the launch of a New Years Challenge where we will build Custom Websites for 5 selected area Non-Profit Organizations. More Details to come with the ability to nominate your favorite non-profit.

An engaged couple wanted to feature event information and photos online for their upcoming wedding. We created a modern looking blog for them that featured some very fancy user-interaction components.  This unique and eye-catching blog also featured an online RSVP system for registering guest for the “big day” and event-related activities.

For the Riverside Estates website, we were asked to design a site that matched the brochure concept that we created for this Southwest Colorado development. The result is a simple, clean design that is dynamic, yet easy to navigate.