The Native American South Carolina Archive (NASCA)
“I work at the University of South Carolina. We had a student-built web archive of Native American materials held by the university. It was promising, but had some problems and various fixes that needed to happen. I found Rystedt Creative via Twitter, and reached out–and I am very glad I did! Joshua is a very, very good web developer, with an excellent understanding of both the front- and back-end technologies and how they interact. He thoroughly reviewed our site, letting us know about the strengths and weaknesses of it, and listened carefully to our desires and plans for the site. He did great work, and the communication from him and his team was steady, informative, professional, and helpful. Pricing is very fair, and work was done in a timely manner. Our site is a real gem now because of the excellent work he did. If Joshua could wade through often-confusing student code and improve and fix a flawed site, imagine what he can do for you working from a blank slate! Hire Rystedt Creative already!” ~ Matt Simmons, The University of South Carolina - Lancaster ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Native American South Carolina Archive (NASCA) is a joint project of the Native American Studies Archive at the University of South Carolina Lancaster, the University of South Carolina’s Institute for Southern Studies, and the University of South Carolina Libraries’ Digital Collections. NASCA exists to help correct misconceptions about Native South Carolina through an interactive and robust media archive. The online Native American South Carolina Archive brings text, visuals, and audio about South Carolina’s native communities, their history, and their culture freely to the Web. The University of South Carolina Lancaster’s students helped bring…
How to Grow Your Ecommerce Store with Killer Content
If you're running an ecommerce business, then you'll know how important it is to stay connected to your customers. Any ecommerce company requires sales to thrive, but one-off sales from the occasional client isn't enough. You need to find a way of transforming the traffic that happens upon your business website into dedicated clients for your company. That's where killer content comes in. Ultimately, in today's highly saturated online market, it's not enough to simply have a great product or service that you can deliver to your customers. You also need to build a relationship with your customers - that's where content marketing is so essential. Content gives you a way to connect with your customers on a deeper level and show them the value of both your brand and the things that you sell. The right content can make your audience "fully connected" to your brand. Statistically, fully-connected customers are 50% more valuable than their counterparts. So, how do you deliver killer content? [text_with_frame id="368c1dbfefba91dceb946d322e0e86bc" content="‹¨›p‹˜›‹¨›em‹˜›If you find this article helpful consider giving it a share‹¯›nbsp;‹¨›/em‹˜›?‹¨›/p‹˜›" line_color="rgba(0,0,0,.07)" text_font="body" heading_font="heading" animation="none" animation_speed="2" animation_delay="0" __fw_editor_shortcodes_id="e6852c2dacc162bc8c34ba646905e841" _fw_coder="aggressive"][/text_with_frame] 1. Get to Know Your Audience The first step in delivering fantastic content for your audience is figuring out who you're talking to. The more you know about your audience, the easier it will be to create the content that's most likely to capture and keep their attention. You can find out details about your audience by looking at the previous sales conducted by your organization. Other options include sending out surveys and questionnaires or simply performing a competitive analysis to discover what kind of customers other brands in your niche are trying to attract.…
How to Properly Format Your Blog Posts in an Offline Editor
You've been blogging - which is great - but formatting your blog posts is getting you down. Blogging is a time investment. If done well it's a rewarding investment. But you shouldn't spend more time than you need to. Many bloggers spend almost as much time formatting their blog posts as they do writing them. It doesn't have to be that way. This how-to guide is going to show you exactly how to format your blog posts the right way, the first time, offline, on any operating system, and for nearly any blogging platform. There is only one thing you need to learn, it's easy, and we're going to teach you. [text_with_frame id="368c1dbfefba91dceb946d322e0e86bc" content="‹¨›p‹˜›‹¨›em‹˜›If you find this article helpful consider giving it a share‹¯›nbsp;‹¨›/em‹˜›?‹¨›/p‹˜›" line_color="rgba(0,0,0,.07)" text_font="body" heading_font="heading" animation="none" animation_speed="2" animation_delay="0" __fw_editor_shortcodes_id="e6852c2dacc162bc8c34ba646905e841" _fw_coder="aggressive"][/text_with_frame] How You're Probably Drafting Your Blog Posts If you're like most bloggers you're drafting your posts one of two ways. Online in the admin panel of your content management system (CMS - like WordPress) Many bloggers draft their blog posts right in their CMS post editor. Perhaps it's WordPress, Weebly, HubSpot CMS, or something else. The upside: You know your posts are formatted correctly and you can preview them as you draft. The downside: You need to be online to write, you can lose your content if your connection is interrupted or your browser crashes, and your entire archive is located exclusively on that blogging platform. Or offline in a common word processor (like Microsoft Word) Many bloggers avoid the downsides of drafting in their blogging CMS by drafting offline in a word processor - like Microsoft Word. The upside: You can write anytime, you're only going to…
Reflections on our First Year in Business
What have you loved about your first year in business? Joshua A few weeks after quitting my full time office job to run Rystedt Creative I remarked to Gabrielle that this was the best decision of our marriage. Why? The time with my family means the world to me and I'm now pursuing one of my passions full time (my previous job didn't have a very positive or creative environment). I love that I can answer client questions any time they have them. I love the people I have worked with so far - especially Farm Market iD, Lady Environmental, and Holy Cross Lutheran Church. I love the combination of creativity and organization that running a business like this requires. Gabrielle I guess to answer this I need to back up a few months before we actually started Rystedt Creative. You could say it’s the “inception moment”, when Josh and I sat down to talk about our future and decided to actually do this crazy thing and start a business. I say crazy because, well, it was crazy. It still is. And I love that about this whole thing. We said “yes” to an off-the-wall idea (okay, not that off the wall – we’re both first born INTJs – there’s no true off-the-wall here) and went forth and did the dang thing. Together. I love that Rystedt Creative is truly a family business. Sometimes our three-year-old will want to “play client”, and we have to answer phone calls and talk about copywriting or blog posts. The whole thing is awesome to me. What have you not loved about your first year in business? Joshua Let's face it, running a new…
Quick and Dirty SEO Primer for Bloggers
If you’re a blogger, you probably already know that SEO (search engine optimization) is an essential part of getting your blog posts “out there” and in front of your readers. But in my experience, bloggers don’t get the full picture when it comes to putting together the pieces for optimal search engine performance. Some bloggers rely too heavily on page views or ad clicks. Others employ keywords to a detrimental degree. Many don’t even bother to research keywords before starting a blog post. When it comes to getting your blog noticed, you need to make SEO work for you. And to do that, you need to coordinate your editorial efforts to unite around a singular goal: reaching your audience and converting them to loyal customers. I promised this would be quick and dirty, so let’s go. [text_with_frame id="368c1dbfefba91dceb946d322e0e86bc" content="‹¨›p‹˜›‹¨›em‹˜›If you find this article helpful consider giving it a share‹¯›nbsp;‹¨›/em‹˜›?‹¨›/p‹˜›" line_color="rgba(0,0,0,.07)" text_font="body" heading_font="heading" animation="none" animation_speed="2" animation_delay="0" __fw_editor_shortcodes_id="e6852c2dacc162bc8c34ba646905e841" _fw_coder="aggressive"][/text_with_frame] The Quick: SEO is based on complex algorithmic logic. You can’t “trick” your way into a favorable SEO ranking by using those easy, ridiculous tips you find on blogging sites that promise you can make six figures blogging in x number of days. This includes tactics like: Asking for page views from random people in Facebook groups Asking for ad clicks from the same people Keyword stuffing Filling out a form that promises distribution to some number of search engines Neglecting site design and mobile optimization Stop using these tactics. They won’t boost your SEO. But they will: Skyrocket your bounce rate Bloat ad click numbers and make you lose out on future campaigns with reputable companies Make you look like a horrible…
Farm Market iD
Farm Market iD is a national businesses that provides data driven marketing and software solutions for agriculture businesses. They offer a wealth of useful content for agri-businesses on their blog, in their articles, and in their ebooks. In addition to this wealth of free content they also sell farm data and software like FarmFocus and FieldVision.FMiD is a unique company in a unique position. Their unparalleled database paired with their software and written content make them an invaluable resource for agri-businesses of all types. For over six months we worked closely with FMiD to give their content marketing a boost and help them launch a new website for the company. Writing value added content Our writing team regularly provided value added content for Farm Market iD including blog posts, feature articles, and e-books to supplement the content they were already creating. We've written blog posts like: 4 Questions Data Can AnswerUsing Data to Predict & Act On Farmers' Behavior5 Strategies for Selling Directly to Farmers Our feature articles include: Building a Data-Powered Agriculture Business PlanA Data-Led Sales Conversation, Start to FinishStarting an Agriculture Blog, Start-to-Finish We have also written the content used in FMiD's ebook on Using Data in the Field. Our written content is helping FMiD reach their content marketing goals. Through this content the company is increasing their web traffic and conversions. Modifying HubSpot Content FMiD uses both HubSpot and WordPress for various aspects of their online presence. In addition to our development on their WordPress website we have also supported FMiD's HubSpot content. Modifying HubSpot Landing Page Templates In order to convert web traffic to leads Farm Market iD wanted fresh landing pages for their expanded content. We designed four…
How to Prepare Your Material for Your Web or Graphic Designer – and Get a Better First Draft
Get Your Nikes On! A Few Tips Before Running to Your Designer I recently received a call from a customer needing a fresh design for a brochure. This is what she had when she called: Ideas, but unsure of which direction to take Copies of a variety of logos, colors, and fonts from decades of changes And she wanted something bright and “up to date” Okay. Let’s get started. But first we need some direction. Here's how I help my clients determine what design they need. That way, once I begin designing, we're already on the right track. This list will be helpful for anyone needing: Web design or site updates Print on paper communication pieces Promotional material for advertising [text_with_frame id="368c1dbfefba91dceb946d322e0e86bc" content="‹¨›p‹˜›‹¨›em‹˜›If you find this article helpful consider giving it a share‹¯›nbsp;‹¨›/em‹˜›?‹¨›/p‹˜›" line_color="rgba(0,0,0,.07)" text_font="body" heading_font="heading" animation="none" animation_speed="2" animation_delay="0" __fw_editor_shortcodes_id="e6852c2dacc162bc8c34ba646905e841" _fw_coder="aggressive"][/text_with_frame] Preparing Your Material For Your Designer: Goal Audience Method Photos and Logos Brand or Company Image Colors Fonts Goal Before spending money on your website, advertisement, brochure, or company t-shirt, think about your goal. Where do you want this content to take your customer? Are you encouraging customers to use the e-commerce part of your business to free up your labor force? Do you want potential customers to go to a trade show? Maybe you have a new product you are eager to sell. Your goal gives your designer clear direction. Audience We’ve all had that school assignment to write a story using the basic elements of character, plot, setting, conflict, and resolution. Consider this when gathering your ideas for the project you are creating. Focus on who the people (characters) are that you want to reach and what…
Lady Environmental
"I collaborated with Rystedt Creative Services to digitize my logo for my blog/business. They worked within an efficient timeline to produce a logo that matched the original that I had drawn while also making it better than the original and more professional looking. I absolutely love it. I know also that if I need help with a website management issue, I can talk to them for advice. Thank you Rystedt Creative Services!!!!" - Shawna Staup (Lady Environmental) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "Lady Environmental" is the online persona of Christian environmentalist, Shawna Staup. She blogs about sustainable living and helps her readers through her recipes for environmentally friendly body products, vegetarian meals, and more. When Lady Environmental launched her blog she had a creative idea for her logo which she first designed on paper and then recreated digitally. Yet she wanted a higher quality version of her logo that had a more accurate globe and even lines. Her need for a professional logo grew as she began experimenting with ways to monetize her platform through product sales. Logo Redesign We took her existing logo, recreated her swooping "le", and digitally drew a more accurate globe. The final product is high quality vector art that Lady Environmental can use on and off the Web. Subscribe to Lady Environmental's blog for tips and tricks for sustainable living and keep your eyes peeled for her upcoming products. Did you know? Our WordPress Development Services come bundled with graphic art and design. Just mention your graphic needs when you contact us.
Stand Out From the Crowd and Stay One Step Ahead of Copycat Competitors
Copycats. Just when you thought you’d left these middle school nuisances behind, you see something come across your Instagram feed that looks shockingly familiar. A little too familiar… You overhear a newcomer to a networking event with an elevator pitch that you’ve heard before. That you’ve delivered before… Copycat competitors are lurking everywhere, regardless of what industry you work in. And with the proliferation of online content and widely shared ideas, it’s easier than ever for someone to pick up your trail and start mimicking your every move. If you haven’t experienced copycat competition yet, chances are, you will at some point down the road. Since getting off the Internet and conducting business by smoke signal isn’t exactly a viable option, how can you set yourself apart and stay one step ahead of your copycat competition? And are there any ways that copycats can actually help you stand out from the crowd? Read on to learn more about how you can stay ahead of your copycats and mute their impact. Step One: Own Your Niche Chances are, if you have a business of any sort, you also have a niche. Whether you cater to Colorado newlyweds seeking unique honeymoon itineraries or repair air conditioners in government buildings, you know your market and how to reach them. When you work your niche, you gain visibility in and develop strong relationships with others in that niche. Typically, you don’t have a lot of competition within that niche, and you stand out from the crowd simply because it’s such a specialized portion of the market. When copycats try to enter the scene, they may be watching your moves and try to gain an…
Medium vs WordPress
So you are thinking of starting (or restarting) a blog (by the way, if you aren't blogging yet you should be). You’ve heard of popular blogging platforms like Medium, WordPress, and HubSpot CMS. Which blogging platform should you choose? In this article we pit two of the most popular blogging platforms against one another to reveal their pros and cons. Medium vs WordPress, which is the best choice for your blog, business, or nonprofit? The answer to this question will differ for each blogger, business owner, and leader. So we're sticking to facts in this comparison and breaking the whole thing down into six rounds: Ease of Use Branding Aesthetic Monetization Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Ownership But first, what is a "blogging platform" anyway? [text_with_frame id="368c1dbfefba91dceb946d322e0e86bc" content="‹¨›p‹˜›‹¨›em‹˜›If you find this article helpful consider giving it a share‹¯›nbsp;‹¨›/em‹˜›?‹¨›/p‹˜›" line_color="rgba(0,0,0,.07)" text_font="body" heading_font="heading" animation="none" animation_speed="2" animation_delay="0" __fw_editor_shortcodes_id="e6852c2dacc162bc8c34ba646905e841" _fw_coder="aggressive"][/text_with_frame] Blogging Platforms In short, a blogging platform is any online software or service that makes it easier for you, the blogger or business owner, to launch and maintain a blog. The best blogging platforms make publishing posts intuitive, reading posts pleasurable, and monetizing your brand possible. Both Medium and WordPress are pro blogging platforms. They're both helping people put their great content on the screen and deliver it to readers. Medium Medium is a relative newcomer to the blogging space. Evan Williams (former CEO of Twitter and founder of another popular blogging platform, Blogger) launched Medium in 2012. Originally, Medium was branded as a publishing platform for content longer than Twitter's then 140 character limit. Medium has grown up in the six short years since then to become a well known publishing platform with a…