Our New Location
Come check out our new location sometime!
Flint Hills Design is exploring new territories. Adding new locations. Meeting new people. Eating too much barbecue.
Well, I guess I’m the only one eating too much barbecue. I moved to the Kansas City area at the beginning of the August and after a few weeks of searching for the right office space, Flint Hills Design is proud to announce that we have a new location in Kansas City! I’m working from an awesome collaborative office space in the heart of the Crossroads Arts District near downtown Kansas City. We’re excited to expand into the Kansas City area, as it will allow us to more easily meet the needs of our clients in the Kansas City, Topeka, and Lawrence areas.
Being new to the KC area, we’re anxious to meet new people. Do you have any friends, organizations, or companies in the area that we should get to know? Whether or not they’re interested in building a new website or expanding their marketing efforts, we would love to meet them. Let us know!
And remember to check back often for updates about life up in Kansas City, marketing tips, and maybe an occasional barbecue restaurant recommendation!
The Next Step in SEO
Here’s a great video explaining the basics of Google’s latest search engine algorithm update (Panda).
I think the general direction Google is headed in is great–as designers we’re happy to know that our sites will not only be judged by their technical aspects but their aesthetic appeal as well. I’m sure there will be some rough patches as they work to figure this out, but I like the direction they’re going!
Brand Loyalty and Your Fanbase
Many companies claim that they have a very loyal customer base. That’s great, because repeat customers keep most companies in business. However, the customer loyalty of nearly every business pales in comparison to sports teams and their customer (fan) base.
Two of us at Flint Hills Design are serious Kansas University basketball fans. Neither of us went to KU, and our only real association with KU basketball is the fact that we live in Kansas. Living in Kansas doesn’t make us fans of KU though; we could have chosen to be Kansas State, Wichita State, Emporia State, or Fort Hays State basketball fans if that was the case. We’re KU fans because of the experience, the personality and success of the team/coaches, and our belief that KU basketball represents something about us as individuals. Everyone who is a fan of a specific sports team shares similar reasons for associating themselves with the team, whether their team is the New York Yankees, the Manchester United football team, or the Garmin-Transitions cycling team.
This is also the basis for customer loyalty within most companies. However, very few companies reach this level of loyalty. I’ve been happy with the tires on my car and would be glad to buy them again, but because I don’t feel a close association to my tires I may try a different brand or model based on customer reviews, price, or the salesperson. However, I can guarantee I won’t switch my basketball team loyalty if K-State ticket prices are lower, other friends try to persuade me that Duke is a better team, or KU starts performing poorly.
This is the type of loyalty that every business should strive for, but it’s true that hardly any business achieves this level of loyalty. Apple has come close due to their buying experience, customer service, and the fact that Apple customers can associate themselves with a “different” computer company. Even so, Apple still doesn’t match the loyalty that most sports teams generate.
Businesses can begin generating a more loyal customer base by creating a unique buying experience, offering exceptional customer service, or pricing their products/services lower than the competition. However, businesses ultimately won’t reach this level of loyalty unless their customers feel a close attachment to, and want to associate themselves with, the company’s products, services, or experience. While it’s a lofty goal, and one that most businesses will never quite reach, aiming for this level of brand loyalty will help make your business stand head and shoulders above the competition.
