Tap into The Power of Blogs

May 28, 2009
We are big proponents of blogs as a way for you to tell your story in a more informal and personal format compared to traditional marketing venues. Blogs put the power of publishing right in your hands, enabling you to feed your niche and get your word out quickly.  
For this reason, we have been working with the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitor Bureau to establish a new blog dedicated to Santa Maria Style Barbecue, a regional culinary tradition that remains a huge attraction in the valley. 
This blog enables the Chamber to maintain the official word on Santa Maria Style Barbecue (the Chamber copyrighted the Santa Maria Style Barbecue menu in 1978) while promoting news, events, tips and insights related to this foodie phenomenon. 
The Official Santa Maria Style Barbecue Blog has already been named a “best web find” by Sunset.com, the web site of Sunset Magazine. 
The Pacific Coast Business Times recently observed that “the hottest new thing on the Web might just be a tasty blog ‘hatched’ by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce.”
Reka Badger of the Santa Maria Sun also had some kind words for the blog: “A lively mélange of commentary, interviews, and event listings, it offers insights into the local cuisine and tips for visitors, as well as plenty of information for Central Coast residents eager to savor regional flavors…It boldly promotes ‘California’s Barbecue Capital’ with light-hearted flair.”
Check it out at www.santamariavalleybbq.com. 

Official Santa Maria Style Barbecue Blog

We are big proponents of blogs as a way for you to tell your story in a more informal and personal format compared to traditional marketing venues. Blogs put the power of publishing right in your hands, enabling you to feed your niche and get your word out quickly.  

For this reason, we have been working with the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitor Bureau to establish a new blog dedicated to Santa Maria Style Barbecue, a regional culinary tradition that remains a huge attraction in the valley. 

This blog enables the Chamber to maintain the official word on Santa Maria Style Barbecue (the Chamber copyrighted the Santa Maria Style Barbecue menu in 1978) while promoting news, events, tips and insights related to this foodie phenomenon. 

The Official Santa Maria Style Barbecue Blog has already been named a “best web find” by Sunset.com, the web site of Sunset Magazine

The Pacific Coast Business Times recently observed that “the hottest new thing on the Web might just be a tasty blog ‘hatched’ by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce.”

Reka Badger of the Santa Maria Sun also had some kind words for the blog: “A lively mélange of commentary, interviews, and event listings, it offers insights into the local cuisine and tips for visitors, as well as plenty of information for Central Coast residents eager to savor regional flavors…It boldly promotes ‘California’s Barbecue Capital’ with light-hearted flair.”

Check it out at www.santamariavalleybbq.com.


New Sinor-LaVallee Web Site

May 13, 2009

Sinor-LaVallee Web SiteWe are excited to see our storytelling in action on the new Sinor-LaVallee Wine Company web site at www.sinorlavallee.com

In addition to helping Mike Sinor and Cheri LaVallee-Sinor articulate their winery story, we also helped them strategize the structure and ambiance of the site.

Sinor-LaVallee is an artisan winery with a focus on Pinot Noir, and we felt that a clean, crisp navigational experience was essential for reflecting and exemplifying this focus. 

We also built the story around a word that we felt best represented Mike Sinor as a winemaker: fanatical. Anyone who has met Mike knows why this adjective is so appropriate.

With this word as our foundation, we set out to share the extreme dedication and passion that goes into the making of Sinor-LaVallee wines.


A Good Story Stops The Whining

May 4, 2009
In wine circles, Anthony Dias Blue needs no introduction. A former wine and spirits editor for Bon Appetit, Anthony is now the editor-in-chief of The Tasting Panel, as well as the founder of Blue Lifestyle, one of the nation’s most successful producers of wine and food events. 
So when Anthony speaks, it’s a good idea to listen. 
On that note, we were impressed with a recent editorial he wrote titled “Stop The Whining.” He says he often hears wineries complain that they’re not getting noticed. But when he visits their web sites, he frequently finds their web presence to be “totally inadequate.”
 Here’s what he says: 
“I, along with other serious media types, get a great amount of information on wineries and their personnel from the Internet. I’m sure most retailers and food and beverage professionals access the web frequently to expand their knowledge.” 
“If you are producing wine and trying to sell it, not having a comprehensive web site is suicidal. There needs to be background information about you, your winemaker and your wines.” 
“Your web site is your calling card. It represents you. Your web site should create an image…Tell us things that are relevant and will give us insight into what you are trying to accomplish.” 
“Show some nice pictures of your place and your vineyards, but don’t clog things up with too many pictures of barrels and vines.”
You will note that Anthony doesn’t say a lot about the design of the site. Of course, a snazzy user-friendly design can only help—but a snazzy design by itself only puts you in the league of other sites with a snazzy design. 
In other words, what truly sets you apart is your own individual story and how that story is told.
What makes you and your products different? What is your vision, and why should people care about your brand? What are your unique selling points? What is your content strategy for maximizing sales? 
These are the types of questions that can only be answered with words, not pictures. This is why our motto is “every word counts.” 
This is easier said than done, of course—which is why we’re here to help.  

In wine circles, Anthony Dias Blue needs no introduction. A former wine and spirits editor for Bon Appetit, Anthony is now the editor-in-chief of The Tasting Panel, as well as the founder of Blue Lifestyle, one of the nation’s most successful producers of wine and food events. 

So when Anthony Dias Blue speaks, it’s a good idea to listen. 

On that note, we were impressed with a recent editorial Blue wrote titled “Stop The Whining.” In it, Blue says that he often hears wineries complain that they’re not getting noticed. But when he visits their web sites to learn more, he frequently finds their web presence to be “totally inadequate.”

 Here’s what he says: 

“I, along with other serious media types, get a great amount of information on wineries and their personnel from the Internet. I’m sure most retailers and food and beverage professionals access the web frequently to expand their knowledge.” 

“If you are producing wine and trying to sell it, not having a comprehensive web site is suicidal. There needs to be background information about you, your winemaker and your wines.” 

“Your web site is your calling card. It represents you. Your web site should create an image…Tell us things that are relevant and will give us insight into what you are trying to accomplish.” 

“Show some nice pictures of your place and your vineyards, but don’t clog things up with too many pictures of barrels and vines.”

You will note that Blue doesn’t say a lot about the design of the site. Of course, a snazzy user-friendly design can only help—but a snazzy design by itself only puts you in the league of other sites with a snazzy design. 

In other words, what truly sets you apart is your own individual story and, most important, how that story is told.

What makes you and your products different? What is your vision, and why should people care about your brand? What are your unique selling points? What is your content strategy for maximizing your sales potential? 

These are the types of questions that can only be answered with words, not pictures. This is why our motto is “every word counts.” 

Telling a great story is easier said than done, of course—which is why we’re here to help.