Shift Branding International

Web site Shifted!

2011-11-04T15:31:00.002+11:00

Our sister company, Shift by Design, recently decided an upgrade to their site was needed to freshen things up and give the brand a new look and feel.

The old site was getting tired and was not working as well as it could, and additions such as social media, new galleries and examples of success stories were getting harder and harder to work into the existing framework.

So a new approach was taken, utilise some of the existing content, add new content, bigger brighter images, more blog orientated information and greater social media integration.

The site is hosted on a Wordpress template, customised to suit the very visual nature of a property stylist business.

We had a host of great images to work from and as these new images come in on a weekly basis, creating a large feature section was the natural choice in order to showcase the home staging skills of the business operators.

These large images lead into blog stories about projects, sales successes and general interest information about the benefits of staging a property for sale.

The new site is live and ranking well in Google despite the move which is great news. Check out Tasmania's leading home staging and property presentation website here

Home Staging Australia

2011-11-04T15:06:00.003+11:00

Shift Branding recently completed work on Home Staging Australia's new website.

The site is aimed to increase the awareness of the home staging industry and what it actually does to improve the selling price and time on the market for home sellers.

Home Staging Australia is also an unofficial index of home staging and property presentation professionals from around the country, helping those looking for a property stylist find one.

The site is largely aimed at sharing information, news and cool products that work well for home staging pros to assist them do their job.

It also shares stories that help raise the awareness and the value of engaging a home stylist to come into your home at sale time and provide creative suggestions that add value to your home.

Shift Branding International's role in the project was to co-ordinate the layout, site build, content development, image selection and resize and SEO.

Check out the new Australian home staging and property stylist directory here

Where does the time go?

2011-11-04T14:50:00.004+11:00

We've been flat out recently working on a number of new projects for clients.

A great new client is AgFirst Land Management Solutions. They have been a supplier to the Tasmanian agricultural sector for some time, assisting busy large property owners manage the maintenance and upkeep of their properties through services such as mowing, fence repair, pasture improvement, ploughing, hay baling and the list goes on.

AgFirst are quite simply the one-stop shop for making sure your property is kept in great condition reducing the burden on farmers and land owners.

AgFirst is well known for it's services to existing customers, but was not competitive in the online world. And, as we all know, these days everything is searched online first. AgFirst owner, Stephen Reynolds, worked with Shift Branding to determine the important pieces of information clients wanted to know quickly and easily and provided some great action shots of the work he and his team have completed over time.

The result was a simple and easy to navigate website providing information relevant to the services the business offers.

One of the key aspects of the build was the importance of being found. Stephen was not too familiar with the principles of SEO and these were added to the site too.

To check out the site, visit www.agfirst.com.au

Shift Branding SEO - the user experience

2011-02-14T17:18:00.003+11:00

Shift Branding loves brand, there is no doubt about it. But our real passion comes from the improvements we see with our client's search engine rankings and the greater conversion our clients get from having a user driven website.

It still amazes me how many sites are out there in small business land that are direct replication of their sales brochure or their corporate brochure. These sites exist to do nothing.

They don't engage users, they don't provide information the customer wants and they don't allow the user to research the information they are after (an important process in the purchase process).

So many business owners forget what it is like to be a buyer of a product, particularly when they are so close to the business, they simply don't see it the way a prospective buyer does.

This user driven space is also over looked by developers who have a brief and budget to meet so push out creative, but not necessarily usable websites which then don't create conversion to sale.

So if you are in the middle of developing a new website, take a step back and review the site operation from a user perspective. How easy is it to find information? Will I be assisted through to the product I want? Can I buy it online? Are you the most cost effective supplier of this product? Will you help me if I need to return it?

Think like a consumer when you build your next site to assist those that use it when it goes live.

If you require assistance with your website, no matter where you are located, why not contact Shift Branding International. We are a small business working for small business.

How contain the content

2010-10-13T10:32:00.002+11:00

We recently launched the site www.homestagershq.com for our client of the same name. This business provides home staging professionals (the people that come in and help prepare your home for sale) a location online to be found by home sellers.

Well, as part of the strategy to provide solid news and relevant blogs to these users, homestagershq.com have also launched an exciting new element to their members and the general public.

The product is called the Homestagershq.com News Portal and this feature draws in blogs, news articles, home staging based Tweets and YouTube videos of relevance to the home staging industry. It provides all this aggregated content in one site, making finding out about developments in the home staging industry rather easy.

We really like the way that content from Twitter is instantly uploaded as soon as a relevant tweet is published by a home stager, very easy to watch and read what all the home stylists are up to from the home staging community.

You can check out the News Portal for home stagers here

Search engine ranking - Shift by Design goes #1

2010-07-22T20:23:00.003+10:00

Shift Branding has worked very closely with its sister company, home staging professionals Shift By Design to optimise their site to return maximum returns on Google placement.

After lots of trials and tribulations, Shift by Design recently went to the #1 spot online on a worldwide search for the industry term, home staging. We never promise number one spots as this is impossible to guarantee so it is great when it happens through hard work and sound strategy development.

Interestingly enough, this placement put Shift by Design ahead of sites such as Wikipedia which was even more of a win.

See the screen grab below:

Time flies when you are having fun

2010-07-22T20:04:00.003+10:00

It's so true, how quickly does time pass when you are doing the things you love?

Well at Shift Branding, that's exactly how things have been panning out. With a few tight deadline projects underway and a particularly large online website development in the pipeline, our resources have been stretched to the limit.

We have recently launched a number of new brands onto the scene including a company that specialises in product distribution and warehousing, a business that wholesales plumbing and electrical supplies and a massive project that will deliver online home staging resource to all the home staging professionals out there.

Move It is a local Tasmanian business that provides the all important service of logistics - getting one thing from one place to another. This particular business is quite interesting in that it not only does it help business and home owners move office and property, they also deliver your new fridge, sofa or dining table from most retailers around the state. Move It with Ritchie Rich is now online with a new brand identity courtesy of Shift Branding.

Brassware Agencies NT is another new client with a brand new identity and for the first time in it's 27 operating history a presence online with a new website. This business provides a wholesale service to electricians and plumbers seeking all manner of items such as tapware, basins, showers, toilets and baths plus loads of other interesting products. Brassware Agencies NT has now gone live with a new site and new logo.

Lastly, a large scale project for Shift Branding on behalf of homestagershq.com has recently gone live. The site has been developed over some 7 months and provides home staging professionals a new location to meet, find out about industry developments, and anew way to be found by home sellers. We are really excited about the potential of this site and hope you get a moment to inspect it.

We are working towards a number of new exciting projects in the coming weeks which should further expand the business categories Shift Branding International has worked in.

Head quarters for home staging (and home stagers)

2010-02-10T20:55:00.002+11:00

A new bit of business recently was the completion of the homestagershq.com project which involved the design of a new logo, letterhead, business cards, with compliments slips and a presentation folder.

Homestagershq.com is a yet to go live website specialising in providing home stagers a dedicated hub to promote their business and their industry, irrespective of which training organisation the stager is part of or what part of the world the home stager hails from.

The most interesting element of this project is the fact that while it is a resource for home stagers to promote their business (and indeed even use to create their own website on) it also serves as an online tool for home staging professionals who have signed up to a membership to be located by home sellers looking to engage a property stylist.

A home seller simply heads to the home, enter their town and city and the details of registered stagers in the area will be provided.

The site will offer subscribing home stager members:

- a landing page to promote their business

- a portfolio section to upload before and after shots

- a blog function

- a forum to discuss topical issues

- an online store to buy eBooks and training resources

- industry information on home staging trends

- a resource for new business leads based on Google Maps technology

- a high level of search engine optimisation (SEO) and back links to the members own website

The site is expected to go live in April and membership details will be made available at that time.

To register your interest to become one of the first home stagers on the site, go to homestagershq.com.

To see the new logo for homestagersgq.com visit the Shift Branding logo gallery

Keeping furniture being built

2010-02-10T20:29:00.003+11:00

Shift Branding recently completed a project for a small local business called Built from the Box. Built from the Box are specialists in, well, building anything you need built straight from the box.

As a home stager, I know how difficult it is when installing furniture in a property not to have everything assembled, and as a parent, we've all been down the path where we have to assemble a bike or trampoline for the kids late at night because we have been at work all day.

Built from the box takes the pressure off these task by having one of their Ready To Assemble (RTA) technicians get to work on the project.

In our deliverables for this project was a logo, business cards, electronic letterhead and a one page landing page to get the client optimised and online so clients can find him.

The brief was simple, make the logo fully reflect what it is we are about. As the logo will appear on truck pantechs and vans, the logo had to scale up to quote large dimensions and we can hardly wait to share the images when we get them.

Thanks to Ritchie from Built from the Box for his work and trust to get the job done for him.

To see the logo, visit the gallery logo section at Shift Branding International

SEO for small to medium business in Tasmania

2009-08-25T17:09:00.004+10:00

Shift Branding International was primarily set up to assist business in the home staging industry in North America but has found itself providing valuable consultancy services to local Tasmanian businesses looking to improve their performance in search engines and development of AdWords pay per click advertising.

Shift Branding has now introduced a new software to further improve the delivery of important tools for managing search engine optimization such as:

Tracking rankings in search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing both locally and Internationally
Managing keywords and identifying Keyword Efficiency Index (KEI) in content within websites
Developing link strategies to create inbound links from external sites
Auditing of existing websites
Reviewing competitor websites

This combined with existing services such as SEO specific content development and Google Analytics analysis and break down, Shift Branding International provides a full service online marketing and SEO offering.

Shift Branding International works with a number of Tasmanian small to medium business to help them fully enable their website and make the most of future developments and online marketing activities to convey their message to their customers efficiently and effectively.

Visit the Shift Branding International website for more details or email info@shiftbranding.com

Can a SEO expert guarantee you the #1 spot in search engines??

2009-08-13T19:10:00.000+10:00

I see a lot of Search Engine Optimization providers that promote a guarantee that they can obtain their clients the #1 spot in search engines for given terms or keywords. This always surprises me as there is no sure fire way to climb the rankings to own a given keyword other than time, good site maintenance (in relation to new content) developing links from higher ranking site of relevancy and managing keywords.

To promise or guarantee this elusive spot at #1 for your keyword is often a lure to get you in more than it is a reality. When you consider the thousands of websites that are launched each day in given industry sectors it is incredibly hard to guarantee you any rankings, let alone the top spot.

Sure these companies offer great software programs that analyse and crunch data, they offer dedicated account managers and promises of the #1 spot, but they also charge you an enormous amount up front and then seem to lose interest in you once the initial process is complete. However this does not stop them billing you monthly as they attempt to get you that elusive #1 spot.

The SEO landscape is a forever changing one. One day you can be ranking well and the next your competition take the top spot (or push you back a page in rankings). The trick with SEO is not to consider it a one off project that you tick off the to do list once you have had someone review your site but instead look towards the ways that you can constantly improve your site and in turn improve your rankings.

Don't believe the hype with a lot of SEO providers though. If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.

Shift Branding International believe in helping small to medium business with gaining ranking with their website. We provide our clients with sound and relevant advice as well as the skills to implement most SEO processes themselves (if they wish) or we will integrate the concepts for you. On top of this, you only pay for the advice you need, no large up front payments just an hourly rate to meet your budget.

So if you are a small to medium business that needs SEO advice, contact adam@shiftbranding.com or visit www.shiftbranding.com for more information.

Is branding a small business important?

2009-07-03T21:12:00.000+10:00

When starting a small business or home business, what are the most important considerations? Getting an office? Picking a name? Selecting the right coffee machine?

We it's actually your branding. Branding is what differentiates your business from your competitors. It's what your customers see and how your customers see you.

Branding is the collective term for how you market your business and the process is just as important for small business as it is for large business. Branding is all about how you are seen and what your products or services represent. It summarises the values, character and personality of your business, the reasons why your customers buy from you.

However, not all small business has the capacity or the funding to successfully get their branding right and this can often be the downfall for the business. Whether we like it or not, our business is often judged by how we present it and putting your head in the sand is not going to change that.

Whether your small business exists now or is in the embryonic stage, serious consideration should be given to the way you brand your business in order to give it the competitive edge in a competitive market.

So whether you are looking for a streamlined brand for your small business at an affordable price, Shift Branding International can assist.

Shift Branding specialises in providing branding solutions to small businesses (and in particular home staging businesses) including logo development, business stationery, web site design and build and search engine optimization.

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Home staging logo designs made easier

2009-06-20T21:00:00.001+10:00

Shift Branding International is now live and offering creative design solutions to those that offer creative design solutions! Home Staging professionals are one of the core markets Shift Branding International was set up to cater for due to the increased number of people turning their hand to this exciting industry.

"As home stagers are required to present other people's homes well it is vitally important that home stagers also present themselves well. It is as much about how you look as what you can offer and with a growing level of competition out there, often the consumer decision comes down to which home stager present themselves best." says Shift Branding International Director, Adam Luttrell.

"Most small business start-ups don't have the large marketing funds required to brand themselves the way they really should which can be detrimental to their business. Shift Branding International offers a cost effective alternative that will help define and create a personality for a business."

With almost four years experience running a thriving home staging business in Tasmania, Australia, Adam knows the ins and outs of the home staging industry which gives extra weight to his credibility in offering the right creative solution for home stagers.

"We offer more than logo designs, we offer a comprehensive selection of packages that can save home stagers valuable time and money in setting up their business. We offer help with brochures, business cards, web design templates, powerpoint presentations and search engine optimization (SEO) and even printing of your marketing collateral." said Adam

"What we aim for is design solutions tailored to our clients needs and budget. If you need an hours assistance developing your SEO strategy, that's fine. If you need a logo, no worries. If you need a full suite then we can do that too."

While Shift Branding International is based in Hobart, Tasmania this does not limit the ability to service any home stager around the world. In fact, given the weight of the Australian dollar against other major world currencies you actually get more value for your money.

To speak to Adam about any project you may have, contact info@shiftbranding.com or visit www.shiftbranding.com for more details.

Shift Branding International is launched...finally!

2009-02-21T20:36:00.000+11:00

Setting up any new business takes time. There are the hurdles of setting up the name, the bank details, the legals...it goes on and on. Then of course there is the marketing side of the business, getting everything sorted so it looks just right. Brochures, business cards, logo, photos and of course the website. Then, with the website comes Search Engine Optimisation (or SEO) which essentially ranks your website against the hundreds and thousands of other sites competing for the same space in the same industry within the likes of Google.

Shift Branding has been set up to assist small to medium business get through the minefield of setting up a brand and an identity for your business. We can help create a logo, design material for printing, assist in the development of your website and provide strategies to help you rank organically in search engines. We can even help you make sense of your website analytics package so you and your online users get the most from your website.

Shift Branding International has been set up with a particular interest in assisting those starting a business and a career in Home Staging (the hugely popular industry that assist home sellers improve the value of their property prior to sale) but has clients from many other sectors including tourism, not-for-profit and even an emerging rock band in Dubai!

Why home staging? Well in addition to running Shift Branding International, Adam is the co-Director of home staging company Shift by Design which he and his partner, Donielle, co-founded in 2006. Since then Adam has developed good professional relationships with stagers from all over the world and provided simple and effective advice on how to improve and develop their branding for their business.

Adam has held positions in industries such as advertising, multimedia and online education, media and public relations, online management and marketing, marketing manager and now director of Shift by Design and Shift Branding International.

The Shift Branding International website will soon be launched and more details on clients and their outcomes of their requirements will be made available here.

In the interim, if you are a Home Stager who needs help in getting the branding and marketing of your business ready for launch, or need SEO assistance with your website let me know at adam@shiftbranding.com. It does not matter whether you are based in the US, Dubai or even here in Hobart, Tasmania, Shift Branding can assist you.

Cheers

Adam

Home staging logo development

2009-02-07T21:09:00.000+11:00

Shift Branding International has been launched recently to assist home stagers gain the maximum potential from their business as possible through high quality presentation of marketing collateral and branded material.

Director of Shift Branding International (SBI) Adam Luttrell says it is the combination of his two passions, home staging and marketing.

"It was of terrific benefit to me when setting up my own home staging business (Shift by Design) a number of years ago to be able to utilize the skills I had learnt working in advertising agencies, media, multimedia and more recently online management and marketing to bring my company to fruition." said Adam.

"Being an experienced home stager also means I know what fellow stagers are looking for in their designs and I know that they need a quality design to reflect the work they are doing in their client's homes. If a home stager does not present well in their marketing they will have little chance in attracting new work. After all, a home stager that cannot present themselves well will have very little perceived value in being able to present a client's home well."

Shift Branding International has assisted a number of organizations with either their branding and search engine optimization needs including the Australian Rosny Children's Choir, Trekka 4WD Club, Shift by Design and emerging Dubai based rock group Borrison Ivy.

If you need assistance with your marketing or brand development, email adam@shiftbranding.com for more information.