High Praise
One of the unexpected
benefits of running a web based business is
the ability to find out a lot about your
customers in a hurry. Most of our customers
have web sites and we always take a look at
how they present their businesses on the web
as part of processing their orders.
A large number of our customers are entertainment
production and audiovisual presentation companies.
I rarely see anything of real interest at these
sites and I remain surprised that industries with
such a high level of technical knowledge miss the
opportunity to put their best foot forward. These
sites are usually “black box” pictures-pictures of
the equipment the company owns- and lists of
technical specifications that may impress their
competition but rarely mean anything to a potential
customer.
That brings me to the point of this posting. When
we were in the “hands on” sound and lighting
business one of our good friends and competitors
was Carey Sound in Greensboro, NC. I have been
friends with the company owner, Ken Carey, for over
25 years and he generously sub-contracted shows to
us more than once. I guess the term “competitor”
doesn’t really fit here.
The web site he has put together for his company is
breathtaking in its depth and quality. Any
production company seeking to create a real
presence on the web would be hard pressed to put
together anything better than what Ken has created.
The type of information he so carefully presents is
a lesson in how to use the web to gain new
customers and hang onto the ones you already have.
His “how to” videos are great information and a
powerful sales tool. No doubt, they have deflected
lots of last minute panic calls from his rental
customers.
Ken’s extensive News section is well laid out and
makes for lots of good reading if you are in the
sound business.
Carey’s Rental section answers lots of the
questions that a potential rental customer might
have in a good humored and honest manner that lets
the renter know exactly what to expect.
The photography is beautiful (lots of smiling
faces), the layout is logical and easy to navigate,
and details regarding the services and equipment
Carey offers are presented with the clients point
of view considered on every page.
I’ve spent a well over an hour browsing this site
in the last week, and still have not seen it all.
If you are ready to move your company’s web
presence into the big leagues, don’t miss this
site.
p.s. Congrats to Carey Sound on their new building
and their 30 year anniversary.
I'll let you all in on a not so secret, secret.
If you have bought tape or batteries from use in the last twenty years it's come form Jeff at Harrison Brothers. His web site GoodBuyGuys.com is your online source for Shurtape gaffers tape, Duracell Procell batteries, MagLite flashlights, Nashua duct tape, Bay State wire ties, Electratrac and Coast Wire extension cords , OnStage Stand mic stands and “value added” customer service. Sure, we will still will have it on hand for you if you get in a pinch but don't hesitate to buy from them directly.
