Firestorm Creative Studios» Firestorm Creative Studios | Destin, Florida – Tallahassee, Florida – Fort Walton Beach, Florida | Web Site Design, Web Applications, Web Site Hosting, Ecommerce | Panama City

Easy Street Wins Gold Addy (Feb. 2009)

Cecil — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:27:22 +0000

We’re proud to announce Easy Street Pet Friendly Vacation Rentals took home a Gold Addy from the competition this year. Rick is one of our very best clients and we couldn’t be happier for him!

We spent a lot of time working through the details of his website – from the design to information architecture and content plan. It’s been a screaming success since it’s launch and we continue to work with the Scali’s to make it better.

We’d also like to give some love to our copywriter on this project for making the verbiage rawk. Thanks laura!

Check out Chickadeez:

Chikadeez Marketing

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Super Bowl XLIII Ads Review: The Good, Bad and No-Shows

James — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 06:43:46 +0000

For those who watched Super Bowl XLIII, it was a pretty interesting scene. The veteran Steelers were favored from the get go, while the underdog Cardinals were in their Post Season winning streak. The game boiled down to some funky calls by the refs and some bad plays by the guys on both sides. Take out the safety, Steelers had it in the bag. Take out some personal fouls, the Cardinals were going to take it. In the end, both teams played well, but could have played better – and the refs could have called better for sure. But it was still a pretty exciting, record breaking Super Bowl. Congrats to the Steelers!

But to me, the most surprising thing of all was the no-shows – for the ads, that is. Super Bowl time has become known for its great advertisements, for entertainment on the field and during timeouts. While I was entertained to some degree, the lack of major brands that have advertised in the past left the middle parts seeming empty. But who can blame them? At $3 mil per 30 seconds, I’d be mad to see Chevy or Ford using tax dollars to by an ad. Good call on their part.

But the evening was not without its fun. Pepsi, GoDaddy, Budwesier, Taco Bell, Coca-cola, Hollywood – there was plenty to look at. Some left me entertained, some left me inspired and some left me scratching my head and asking myself, “They paid how much for that?”

So here’s a few picks of my favorites, least favorites and the downright wacky – along my take on the intent, effectiveness and stickiness of the ads. This is objectively subjective, so don’t hate… but comment and let me know what you think. Let’s have a discussion! Visit Hulu.com to see all the ads from Super Bowl XLIII.

Best of Show – Pepsi Max: I’m Good (Full Version)

On target, funny… I’ll probably go try a Pepsi Max at least once.

Worst of Show – Cash4Gold.com: Heeere’s Money

Just… what? running in second was Hulu’s weirdness along with Castrol Oil’s stupid monkeys.

Best Movie Trailer – Star Trek

Could it be the Bad Robot? Or is James Kirk just cool? Although, the Transformers announcement had me on the edge of my seat, also! Can’t wait for Optimus Prime to get back into action.

Funniest – NBC: LMAO

This was tough cause some of the ads were pretty funny. I liked Bridgestone’s Hot Item, Taco Bell’s Overrated, CareerBuilder.com’s Tips and Bud Light’s Swedish. But in the end, NBC’s LMAO ad was – well – lmao.

Most Memorable – Monster: Need a new job?

Big time toss up for this category. There were many that were memorable from Pepsi’s I’m Good to the Priceline Negotiator. Monster’s ad, however, struck me as both funny and serious. I think the imagery was inspired by a place where everyone has been at least once (perhaps not literally). The overall affect of the concept with the tag in the end was impacting. Stop being taking advantage of… Your Calling Is Calling.

Most Creative – Coke: Heist

So this was neck and neck between the Heist and GE’s Scarecrow. I loved them both – very creative. While the thought of insects enjoying a bottled Coca-Cola is a bit strange, it falls inline with a group of odd creatures hand bottling and delivering every Coke served up in a vending machine. Why most creative? The visuals were simply amazing.

Most Inspiring/Thought Provoking – Gatorade: Tiger

This was tough… real tough. I really like Kellogg’s Plant a Seed also, but in the end, the brief glimpses into the lives of ordinary people contrasted with well known athletes somehow inspired me. It demonstrated the commonality found within diversity – what drives people, inspires them and of course, what they drink. That said, Plant a Seed wasn’t far behind.

Say What? – Castrol Oil: Edge Monkeys

Should I say more?

Who Was That For? – Cars.com: David Abernathy

This was a really nice ad, actually. To me, it just didn’t fit Cars.com. The content and production were great, but who was that for again?

My 4-year-old Is More Creative – Cash4Gold.com: Heeere’s Money

Unfortunately, this ad wins again – and that’s not a good thing.

I Feel Funny – Sobe: Lizard Lake 2D

This ad just made me feel… strange.

Visit Hulu.com to see all the ads from Super Bowl XLIII. And don’t forget to leave your two cents!

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NBI Properties – Rich Internet Application

James — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:09:22 +0000

NBI Properties is one of America’s fastest growing Commercial Real Estate firms. When they expanded into Miami they wanted a high impact website design with intuitive search functions.

The Challenge:

NBI Properties needed to expand their web presence and online marketing to help them compete in the very large real estate market of Miami, Florida. The solution also needed to be flexible and expandable, with branches expected to open in more markets across the Southeast. NBI also wanted to enable its website visitors to search properties from all the markets they represented. This was particularly challenging due to wide variations between MLS vendors from market to market.

The Solution:

Firestorm Creative Studios planned and developed a site that was unmatched in the Real Estate industry, creating a Real Estate website that was useful, informative and innovative. The final result included simple, yet stunning visuals and a sleek, intuitive interface. The presentation made it simple to search the large numbers of properties in one setting. The search and interactive experience is built on a solid framework of private .NET web services and object oriented ActionScript that allow users to save properties and search criteria, allowing access to them from any computer in the world.

The familiar User Interface boasts Drag-and-Drop functionality to allow users to have a desktop-like experience similar to moving files from window to window. All of the site’s many sections are Deep Linked to accommodate bookmarks and sharing of properties via a unique URL.

Registered “My NBI” users can also receive daily emails containing new properties that match their saved search criteria. The ability to send properties to your friends with one click, find a property quickly with only your MLS ID, map it’s location and print each listing are conveniences that set this web application apart from the rest.

The Technology:

Firestorm Creative Studios used an array of technologies to make this Rich Internet Application capable of handling high traffic counts without a hitch. The technologies used also allow for NBI’s future expansion to consume new data from emerging market opportunities. These technologies include Adobe Flash, Microsoft SQL Server and C#.NET. For planning and concept, Firestorm Creative also used good ole’ dry erase technology – never fails!

Visit the NBI Properties, Inc. Website »

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AM Cafe – Commercial Photography – Destin, Florida (FL)

James — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:32:49 +0000

Destin, Florida’s AM Cafe needed fresh commercial product photography for their new eCommerce website, Angela Miller Designs. Owner Angela Miller asked FCS to make AM Cafe’s products look good.

The Challenge

Capture and digitally prepare the entire product line for use in AM Cafe’s online store.

The Sollution

Captured all products digitally with Nikon D80 DSLR 18-200 VR lens in studio with controlled lighting.

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The First Impression: Your Website is Where It Happens

James — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:05:07 +0000

Fifteen years ago, the business landscape was a lot different, and so was your sales process. New prospects found you in the yellow pages and called to set up an appointment. You and your team went – clean shaven, suit and tie, fresh cologne. Why all the trouble? First impressions! Prospects size you and your business up in moments. Overcoming a negative first impression is difficult and sometimes impossible. Making a great first impression, however, can be priceless.

Things haven’t changed much. The first impression can still solidify a prospect or send them running. The one thing that has changed: the meeting place. With more than 70% of people in the United Sates using the internet, folks aren’t calling and setting up appointments anymore. They’re going online and they are meeting you – for the first time – at your website.

The same principles from fifteen years ago (and much longer before that) apply to your website. Back in the day it was the suit and tie. Today, it’s your website. How’s your website dressed right now? What do people say about your website when they see it for the first time? How do your employees feel about the website that represents them? If your website isn’t making a great first impression, your competition’s website is only a few clicks away. So, here’s a few ways to find out if your website is making a good impression and some ideas on how to fix it should it be less than ravishing.

1. Find out from prospects where they heard about you

This can be valuable information, regardless of your online efforts. Knowing how prospects are finding you can help you better spend your marketing dollars. Before your sales team ends a conversation, ask the prospect how they found you. And don’t miss this chance to get direct feedback about your website. Listen and write if a prospect makes suggestions! If you start to hear more negative comments than positive ones, your website probably isn’t cutting the muster. Take the feedback and act!

2. Ask your trusted customers and business partners for ideas

No one has better information about why they work with you than your current clients and business partners. Sure everyone’s a critic, but if they have something to say, listen! Send them a survey about your website and a Starbucks gift card if they complete the survey. People love to give their opinion and they love it more when their opinion causes action. It will make them feel special and useful and it will help you improve your business.

3. Ask your employees how they feel about the web site that represents them

After all, they surf the web more than they work anyway. Ask them how your website matches up to those they use all the time (doing their best to keep apples with apples). Ask them if they’re embarrassed to tell folks about your site and how they feel about how it represents them. Make sure they don’t feel threatened if they’re honest, too. You’re employees are a great resource for information about how prospects and clients react to your website.

4. Get in touch with a web design and SEO consultant for help

I can think of a good one right now… but really, call a pro. Professional web designers use the latest design techniques and tools to forge your image on the web. A great designer will be up on the latest trends in web design and visual communication, thus creating a site that will draw prospects in (once they find you), giving you the chance you need and deserve to close the sale. That raises the question: how will they find you? There’s a myriad of sources on the web, including your competition seeking the same clients. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is key to getting found on the web. A professional SEO has the technical knowledge and experience with the ever changing methods required to get your site found and can create a plan to keep you in the limelight. All of this may mean some investment, but that opportunity for a first impression is well more than worth it in the long run.

5. If You’re Going to Throw Money

I want to make this clear: perform due diligence before doing anything that requires any kind of investment. Don’t throw money… make sure that the dollars you spend are going to return to you in solid first impressions and converted sales. If you’re thinking about calling website design professionals, call their clients and ask them if they’ve been happy with the service and quality. The internet is an amazing tool… use it to look at their site and their work and see if it impresses you! Call a colleague or friend who has a nice website and ask them who they use and why.

We’re not suggesting you go buy a Prada suit for your next meeting. We’re saying don’t wear the suit from the 90’s that’s been worn a few times just to save a buck! You’ll regret it. People are searching for other people to do business with and they are using the web to find them. So, ask yourself: can they find you? Once they found you, can they find the information they need on your website? What lasting first impression are they leaving with?

Not so sure about the first impression you’re making? We can help you. We’re sure we can make tailor a site for you that will turn heads. If you want to see some of work, take a look at our design, production and marketing showcase.

Quick Statistics for Local Business Search

Search engines were rated the number one resource for finding local business information. Here’s how a survey’s responses broke down in terms of professed usage:

Search engines: 74%
Print yellow pages: 65%
Internet yellow pages: 50%
Traditional newspapers: 44%
Print white pages: 33%
Television: 29%
Consumer review websites: 18%

Source: Search Engine Land

(Percentages are greater than 100 because respondents were permitted to select more than one answer.)

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Easy Street Vacation Rentals – Website & Interactive Experience

James — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:50:04 +0000

Easy Street Vacation Rentals approached Firestorm to help them take their small yet successful vacation home rental company’s website to the next level.

Easy Street Vacation Rentals is a one of many companies who manage multiple vacation homes in the panhandle of Florida. The competition is extremely stiff because of the shear number of homes available to rent when a potential vacationer is looking. So, in order to help them stand out among their competition, we wanted to create an experience for Easy Streets users to engage them, wow them and keep them coming back to Easy Street time and again.

Before we even opened photoshop, we met with Rick and Debbie to discuss their goals and vision for the new Easy Street Vacation Rentals, and we listened. We wanted to know about them, their company, who their customers were and what their customers expect from them. By taking this approach, we were able to target our efforts and cater to their customers tastes, and meet their needs.

The response from my new Firestorm site is unbeleiveable. My reservations are way up nd my customers love it. You guys are my #1 business tool!

Technology

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Portofino Charlies – Large Format Print Design, Outdoor Advertising

James — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:53:01 +0000

Portofino Charlies on Pensacola Beach needed eye catching designs to help their freshly created brand get recognized and stand out. FCS designed a billboard to get the attention they needed.

The Solution

Staying with the brand that Firestorm Creative Studios produced earlier for Portofino Charlies, we looked to deep, vibrant colors to help lead the way in creating the right blend of visibility and positive perception. The billboard’s proximity to location allowed us to include general directions to Portofino Charlies as well.

The Technology

We used a combination of techniques in Photoshop CS3 and Illustrator CS3 to achieve the scalability, level of detail and quality required by the discerning tastes of the client.

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4 Great Free Fonts

James — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:51:35 +0000

Four great fonts absolutely free.

1. JustOldFashion

2. Day Roman : Download

3. ATF Antique

4. Lacuna (Enter the Flash site and click on “Type Design”)

Edit: If you browse through some of the above links, you can find a heck of a lot more fonts. Some of them just aren’t as nice as others. These were among my favorites.

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