Frequently Asked Questions

Questions answered for Buzzdog Creative by Mark Rohde.

Okay, Mr. Buzzdog, what is your favorite type of digital marketing project?

Well, like any ol' dog I like the whole enchilada, but will gladly accept anything tossed my way. The perfect treat is sinking my teeth into the SEO design and development and then spiced up with my own design, photography, illustration and copy and then wrapped up in web management, search engine and email marketing. Makes me hungry thinking about it.

What if I already have a web site designer or even an existing web site. Can you make it more, well, efficient?

Sure. I can make it more efficient by making it work well with today's web standards, more user friendly and most importantly by making it found by the search engines your customer is using to find you. I may even be able to make your graphics, copy and images a bit more compelling so the visitor takes the time find out what you have to say or sell.

You have covered a lot of digital marketing bases on this site but it seems you have conspicuously left out the social media marketing. Is that on purpose?

Yes. And at the risk of sounding heretical, I don't consider social media marketing to be it's own universe. Colleges are now practically offering degrees in TwitterFacebook. SocMed is only part of the marketing toolbox. Word of mouth is probably the most important way to get attention but with zillions of Twitters, youtube movies, Facebook and other "friend" pages your social media efforts might just be a voice in the wilderness. Marketing means finding the most effective and cost effective way to attract consumers. Social Media plays a small role. Just because it's "free" doesn't mean it's the most cost effective marketing you can do.

They say size matters. What size of business do you prefer working with?

On a scale between say, Vern's Lawn Mowing and Amazon, I would lean toward the small to middlin' businesses. They would appreciate my talents and excitement a lot more. The perfect business relationship would be between me and a business just getting going or an established business just exploring the digital marketing universe. I feel like we can have a more personal relationship that can evolve as we grow. We can make the decisions and control the outcome. Boards and committees have a tendency toward consensus. Consensus creates things like creamed corn which may be delightful as part of Mom's Thanksgiving spread but too boring for day to day consumption.

Are you always this cheeky and forthcoming?

Pretty much, except at Mom's Thanksgiving table.

Say I come to you for marketing help but I'm not even sure what I need, where do we start?

We talk about your business, your goals and abilities. We analyze what you have done and have not done. We look at what you think you have done right and what you have done wrong. Then we set realistic goals and find a way to measure the success of our marketing efforts. Of course we have to create a realistic budget and time frame to make the marketing real. We use all our creative tools to show your product and service in the best light.

But what if I don't have much money to spend on my marketing.

We try to find a "big idea" for the small budget. Simple, swift and effective. I love some of the small budget/big ideas the best. When they work we both get more excited and then move on to a little bigger budget and more marketing.

You seem to have this right brain, left brain, thing going. SEO, web development, then design, illustration, photography. What gives? Are you more of an analyst or creative?

Analysis is creative. Creating is analysis. I don't see the problem.

Okay, on the creative side, your portfolio shows examples, both photographic, design and illustrative, of what you might do for a client. Are these your preferred stylistic tendencies?

Nope, I would like my clients to think of me as a creative person and challenge me beyond my current portfolio.

Regarding web development, there are so many new digital languages that make the web more dynamic and interactive, how do keep up with them.

I don't. At least not at the expert level. I am not a specialist in any code or language, I am more a generalist with a pretty good knowledge of HTML(XHTML), CSS, and Javascript. The other coding languages are familiar enough that I know where to go and to whom for help.

It looks to me that your biography contains some colorful experience and changes.

That's not a question, but yes. As Phil Marco, a talented photographer and film maker said many years ago, "When you are through changing, you are through.".

What do you consider the single most effective marketing tool available?

A simple great idea.

What do you consider the least effective marketing tool?

A big budget and a bad idea.

What do think is the biggest hurdle facing a business and the way it markets itself?

Follow through. It's easy to be excited at first but you have to keep going with it, analyze and re-analyze your strategies, assemble new marketing tools, ideas and mediums, act on openings in the marketplace and media, and adjust to trends, consumers and economies. Like diamonds, marketing is forever.