As we are less than a month away from celebrating our first official business year, I must say it has been a whole journey. Erin and I have learned so much within a time like this. From handling business through a pandemic, project management to adding team members, and working multiple jobs — we can say that we have SEEN and DONE it all. Haha!

But in all fairness, we would not be where we are if it was not for the keen clientele and relationships that we have built with them. One of the key values at Maltshop the team always wants to live by is building open & honest relationships. It is vital to communicate proactively and effectively because this will instill confidence within the client that we are aware of their needs and bring their visions to life. What does it take for companies to make these kinds of relationships, and why is it important?

Biz AdviceDellanee WadeSeptember 4, 2020customers, clients, relationships, honesty, transparency, advertising

What Makes a Good Website

We’ve built a number of websites here at the Maltshop, and I speak from experience when I say no two clients are the same. Sure there may be similarities, but they all often differ on two key issues when it comes to websites.

1. What do you want your site to do for you?
Will you be editing anything on the site in-house?

These questions are often the first ones we ask or glean from the conversation. For those less informed on the capabilities of the web, they often don’t want to make edits themselves and primarily want the site to just “exist” so potential customers can find them through Google. But the harsh truth is, a site that just “exists” is probably not going to get you the Google searches you want. With that in mind, here are our top 5 things every website should have to get you the results you need.

Genuine Support or PR Ploy?

Over the course of the last few weeks, issues stemming from systemic racism have dominated the news cycle. Across the country and around the world, companies have pledged to stand against bigotry and hate. But are they going to stick with it? Are they even being honest with us right now?

Biz AdviceErin SmithJune 12, 2020community, public relations, politics, blacklivesmatter, shreveport, louisiana

Marketing in a Pandemic

“What the heck is going on?!”

You’ve probably said that line or some variation of it a lot in the last week. If you’re a business owner, you’re likely following the CDC’s updates closely and are constantly having to modify strategies to make sure you stay afloat, keep your employees paid and your customers safe.

Here’s a quick list of what you need to be doing to keep your customers informed at a moment’s notice.

Getting Your Name Out There: Community Involvement

Here’s another way to begin “Getting Your Name Out There.” Let’s talk about Community Involvement and how that can help your business grow.

“Wait, community involvement? Doesn’t that mean volunteering and doing stuff for free?” I heard you think it.

And no, that’s not exactly what we’re talking about.

Getting Your Name Out There: Networking

This week we’re continuing our series on “Getting Your Name Out There.” Today’s focus: networking.

If you’re like most people, you see networking as a necessary evil of sorts. Or you see it as just plain evil. You hate dragging yourself out to meet strangers, especially if there’s no guarantee of a sale or business in return.

So let’s flip this idea on its head for a minute. Have you ever considered going into a networking event and thinking about what you can GIVE versus GET in return?

Biz AdviceErin SmithJanuary 24, 2020events, community, networking, business card, friendly

Getting Your Name Out There: Competing

Whether you’re just starting out or just ready to elevate your business, getting your name out there is key. But how do you “get your name out there”? There are so many ways to do it that making a decision can bring on anxiety, cold sweats or dizzy spells! Yikes!

Over the course of the next few posts, we’ll be bringing you some ideas on how to promote your business, minus the headache and confusion.

Biz AdviceErin SmithJanuary 10, 2020sponsorship, events, addys, community