The James Group Wins Ad Agency 2008 Search Engine Optimization Contest
Boutique NYC advertising agency beats worldwide giants for website optimization knowledge.
If you want customers to find your company’s website on the first page of major search engines, you’ll want to turn to The James Group, ( http://www.thejamesgroup.com ) a boutique advertising agency to design your website and not the larger agencies. So says the results of the 2008 Search Engine Optimization contest run by advertising industry news blog tribbleagency.com
2008 Website Ranking Ability
1. The James Group / Leo Burnett
2 - Spark
3 - Ogilvy
4 - Crispin Porter + Bogusky
5 - JWT
6 - Young & Rubicam
7 - Draftfcb
8 - TBWA \ Chiat \ Day
9 - GSD&M
10 - Wieden & Kennedy
11 - DDB
12 - Saatchi and Saatchi
13 - Weber Shandwick
14 - Fleishman-Hillard
“The James Group takes the time to consider search engine rankings on every site they design. They’re innovative and mastered web optimization techniques,” says Roger Wehbe, a panel judge and President of Search Engine Optimization powerhouse Yooter Interactive. “The James Group’s clients consistently rank on the first page for their categories. It was an easy choice to select The James Group as the winner, even over the largest worldwide agencies. They know what they are doing.”
For the contest, ad agencies were invited to submit client websites and the key customer search terms that they were supposed to rank for. The sites were evaluated for performance as well as their ability to comply with Google recommended website guidelines which have been adopted by the other major search engines. The James Group shares the award with Leo Burnett, a worldwide agency with large websites that rank well.
“The James Group spent two years interviewing search engine optimization experts to separate fact from fiction on what actually works to create website rankings,” says James Connor, CEO of The James Group. “We then boiled it down into six best practices for on-site web design and three best practices for off-site design. These techniques are part of our culture now and we implement them on each new website we design for clients.”
Posillico Unifies Six Business Units Under One Brand Developed By The James Group
New York, NY, December 3, 2007 – Annual strategic planning conferences can be challenging. But this year proved easier for construction giant Posillico, who worked over the past year with The James Group, a branding and advertising agency in New York City, to unify its six business units under one brand.
“The new brand developed by The James Group is the unifying force across all our business units,” said Michael Posillico, Executive VP of Strategic Business Development. “It was very important to clarify our brand internally and externally. The new branding helps us solve company issues that affect our customers. It keeps everyone moving in the same direction. We know exactly what we’re doing and why we’re doing it.”
One of the New York Metro’s leading construction groups for 60 years, the Posillico family has operated multiple business units, handling some of the area’s most important construction projects including the H.O.V lane on the Long Island Expressway, foundation and site preparation for John Jay College’s expansion, and redevelopment of the Glen Cove waterfront. Before this year, JD Posillico, Posillico Bros. Asphalt, Blue Water Environmental, Piles, Drilling & Underground Solutions, Metron Development Service, and the Posillico Development Company operated as independent entities. Following rebranding, to avoid market confusion, they are simply known as Posillico.
Many branding elements were developed to make Posillico a preferred choice for clients looking for integrated construction solutions. These included a new positioning as a company that handles complex construction projects, a new logo that is recognizable on construction helmets from 100 yards, a new ad campaign, and the tagline “We Know How.” The simplified Posillico brand has already increased visibility in the market and even referrals to handle high profile projects.
“We considered a number of advertising agencies,” said Michael Posillico. “The James Group had the cleanest, easiest approach to branding and marketing. We clearly understood what we would gain from their phased approach. The James Group delivered in a timely manner and provided a cost-effective solution that positions our company for continuous growth.”
To view Posillico’s new look, visit http://www.posillicogroup.com. This new website features numerous examples of how Posillico works seamlessly across its many business units to solve complex construction problems for clients.
4 Types of Advertising Campaigns That Sell Article attracts over 5,750 readers
Google analytics reveals that over 5,750 unique visitors have read The James Group’s article on the 4 Types of Advertising Campaigns that Sell.
“The article has become a favorite among people visiting The James Group website ( http://www.thejamesgroup.com ). We experienced an initial spike in readers when we first released this informative article online,” said James Connor, CEO of The James Group. “We are pleased that it continues to draw the attention and positive comments of marketing and business people.”
The James Group continues to develop advertising campaigns that make clients money based on the approaches outlined in the article including work for TopTec, an event Tent company; Posillico, a construction giant in the New York Metro area; AccountantsWorld, an accounting software company; Juma, an IP Convergence company; and Aspen, a men’s sweater and knit company.
Daring Branding by Blockheads Burritos Proves Successful
February 21, 2006. (New York, NY) — Business is booming at Blockheads, the 12-year old burrito chain based in New York City, largely due to an innovative branding decision the company made 18 months ago. To stand out in the marketplace, Blockheads repositioned its brand around a cast of sock monkey characters that explain Blockheads is a great place to get together with friends. Since rebranding, sales are up 20% across five stores.
“People love the Blockheads’ characters,” says Ken Sofer, who founded Blockheads with his brother, Don twelve years ago. “We wanted to strangle The James Group, when they first came up with the brand. It was quite surprising and not what we expected. But now we see how effective the brand is in making people remember our restaurants.”
4 Types of Advertising Campaigns That Sell
If your company is not using one or more of these techniques, The James Group already knows - your marketing is underperforming.
by James Connor, CEO of The James Group
In the history of the world, there have only been four types of advertising campaigns that both build brands and drive sales.
They are:
1. A WORD HOOK
2. A CHARACTER HOOK
3. A REPEATABLE THEME
4. A CONSISTENT BRAND LAYOUT
Without exception, the most popular and most successful advertising campaigns have used one of these techniques or combined several of these techniques, making them well-documented best practices in creating ad campaigns. Read the rest of this entry »
Six Companies Start Year Discovering the Power of Their Brands with The James Group
March 25, 2005. (New York, NY) — Midsized companies are thinking about their brands. They see branding as a way to boost sales and break out of the competitive sales environment that is squeezing their margins. Increasingly, they are turning to brand marketing experts like The James Group to help them.
“There are three engines of business,” says James Connor, The James Group CEO. “Most midsized businesses exist by trying to continuously improve their operations and finances. What do you think happens when they kick in that third engine, brand marketing? They take off.”
Tigex Generates Immediate Results After Launch by The James Group
Brand created by The James Group in close cooperation with Tigex generates immediate results just weeks after launch into crowded U.S. market.
January 24, 2005 (New York, NY) — In September 2004, Tigex [pronounced tee-jex!] unveiled its new U.S. brand and packaging designed by The James Group’s New York office. The brand launch signaled the beginning of the first chapter in the company’s quest to conquer the crowded baby products category in the U.S.
Tigex is a leading brand of baby bottles and other baby products in Europe. For over 50 years, Tigex has been developing unique solutions for moms and babies.
In January 2004, Tigex charged The James Group with the ambitious goal of developing and launching its new brand into U.S. stores by the end of the summer.
The James Group Client Launches ThinkFun Centers in Barnes & Noble
ThinkFun’s Mind-Challenging Games in Over 360 Barnes & Noble Stores
New York, NY (August 24, 2004) - Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest bookseller, announced that ThinkFun Centers are now in over 360 Barnes & Noble stores all across the country. ThinkFun is a leading manufacturing of fun games for children and adults that challenge the mind and provide hours of enjoyment. ThinkFun games are also available on Barnes & Noble.com (www.bn.com).
“Intellectually stimulating games for children and adults have become more popular with our customers,” said Steve Riggio, chief executive officer of Barnes & Noble, Inc. “Our game business has seen double-digit growth over the last three years, and ThinkFun will add 40 new stimulating and enjoyable games to our game assortment. I’m convinced that these new ThinkFun Centers will be a great success in our stores.”
“Barnes & Noble has smart customers, and we have the mind-challenging games they like to play,” said Bill Ritchie, chief executive officer of ThinkFun, Inc. “Sometimes the mind wants to be stimulated, and you can’t beat a good book or a mind-challenging game. Now, customers are going to be able to pick up both at the same time.”
“This strategic win for our business can be directly attributed to the branding and marketing work done by The James Group,” says Ralph Cuomo, COO of ThinkFun. “Barnes & Noble understood exactly what we stand for and why they should partner with us.”
The James Group Welcomes New Creative Talent
Paul Blakely Takes on New Associate Creative Director Post
May 29th, 2003 (New York, NY)— James Connor, CEO of New York based brand image and full-service advertising agency, The James Group, announced today the appointment of award-winning talent, Paul Blakely, to the new post of Associate Creative Director. Blakely is known for his design work in Europe and the US on such brands as Sony, Coca-Cola, British Telecom and more. At The James Group, he will help lead the agency’s strategic branding process for current and future accounts, and will manage the agency’s current staff of creative talent.
“Paul knows how to create brands,” said Connor. “The caliber of his work will open many doors for us as an agency. His brand expertise is exactly what we were looking for and we welcome him aboard.”
Binary Arts Changes Name to ThinkFun
Debuts brand developed by The James Group at 100th Anniversary of Toy Fair.
February 16, 2003 (Alexandria, VA) – Toy Fair in New York City is full of many new game introductions, but rarely does it reintroduce a successful 18-year old company under a new brand name. On February 16th, Binary Arts made a bold move to solidify its position as the leading manufacturer of mind challenging games by renaming the company ThinkFun™. The company is also introducing ThinkFun Centers to retailers to spotlight their unique product, which embodies the philosophy that problem solving is fun.
The new ThinkFun brand and “Everybody Plays” advertising campaign were developed by New York City-based branding agency The James Group. To demonstrate the broad appeal of mind challenging games to all ages, the campaign whimsically displays even animals interested in a game as people of varying ages play.
“We’re ready to take the company to the next level,” says Bill Ritchie, Founder and CEO. “We see a growing demand for mind challenging games, particularly in the specialty market. Consumers tell us that they are looking for an engaging challenge. Our new name, ThinkFun, instantly conveys the experience of our product.”