Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

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Created on Friday, May 24 2013

We at Chakra want to honor our courageous Veterans for their ultimate sacrifice as well as those currently serving in our military. As we celebrate the Holiday weekend, please take time to remember our fallen hero’s. For our traveling friends and family, we wish you all a safe and enjoyable Holiday. Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Chakra Team Welcomes Jeff Ross

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Created on Thursday, March 21 2013

Chakra proudly announces the addition of Account Executive Jeffrey Ross to our team.
Mr. Ross brings a wealth of experience into Chakra with his proven success in managing all aspects of a project from marketing to invoicing and everything in between. His work has also included mentoring technology based startup companies, event coordination, social media management, and much more. Mr. Ross is skilled in new media and technology and will be able to provide great insight on the most innovative ways for clients to reach their audience in our increasingly digital world. Mr. Ross brings enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication to all of his projects and is certain to be a great resource for Chakra’s clients. As we continue to pave the way in cutting-edge communication strategies, we are confident Mr. Ross’s expertise will enhance Chakra’s ability to connect our clients to their target audiences in new and inventive ways.

President of Chakra, Terry Sember, looks forward to working with Mr. Ross: “Jeff's knowledge and experience will be a great addition to Chakra's team. His commitment and enthusiasm for providing innovative and integrated solutions to clients are an ideal fit to Chakra's mission."

Mr. Ross agrees: "I'm excited to be joining such an innovative and growing company. I think we'll be able to do some great things moving forward."

Line-Ward Corporation Website Launch

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Created on Tuesday, March 12 2013

Our web team recently launched an updated website for the Line-Ward Corporation, a manufacturer of cable, line, and pipe installation equipment headquartered in Buffalo, New York. Line-Ward's new site acts as an effective display of the company's signature equipment, the L2 Line Layer, with many photos including a homepage slideshow and a gallery of expandable images. The site is built with responsive design for optimal viewing on any screen size and has an easy to use CMS. Line-Ward's updated site also features embedded videos, downloadable brochures, contact forms, social media integration, and an easy to navigate layout to help the company better connect with its online audience.

Chakra's internet marketing experts also helped Line-Ward develop SEO friendly content, building an understanding of the company, its audience, and the competition to update the site for optimized search engine performance. The newly designed website with search engine optimized content helps Line-Ward reach a broader audience, including international customers. The Chakra Team will continue to help Line-Ward establish their online presence and engage their audience with email marketing and social media assistance, for a complete online marketing solution.

Matt Lux Named 2013 Beta Award Finalist!

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Created on Thursday, March 07 2013

Congratulations to Team Chakra's own Matt Lux who was just chosen as a finalist for the Techie category of the 2013 infoTech Niagara Beta Awards!

Matt consistently produces exceptional results and solutions to meet the needs of our diverse clientele. Matt's skills in identifying, deploying and training of new internet based technologies are an integral part of Chakra's success. Our clients are consistently providing positive feedback about Matt's attitude and effort. In addition, his contributions to our internal workflows and solution development are recognized by all his fellow Chakra team members.

We are all very proud to have Matt as part of our team! Congratulations, Matt and GOOD LUCK (you are already a winner in our book)!

Take Your Business Card to the Next Level

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Created on Tuesday, March 05 2013

Although the basic function of business cards is to share contact information, they are also an integral part of your marketing campaign, providing a way to demonstrate your brand, professionalism, and creativity. From the design of your card to what's on it, there are many ways to update your business card so it creates an impact with your audience. Here are just some of the ways Chakra can help you take your business card to the next level with a more modern look that will stand out from the crowd.

Choose a Unique Paper Stock

On a basic level, your card must be sturdy so it doesn't tear and holds up against being pulled in and out of a crowded wallet. Beyond that, a business card can become noteworthy with a more substantial or unique stock. Plastic, wood, fabric, metal and even cookies and meat are all options. Practicality, budget, and brand consistency are important, but cardstock doesn't have to be your only choice.

5 Things NOT To Do on Your Website

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Created on Tuesday, February 26 2013

Did you know that it takes only THREE seconds for website visitors to process what they are seeing before they make the decision to leave, or hopefully stay on, the page? In working to keep traffic on your site longer, it is imperative that you optimize your site for those critical first three seconds, keeping your content well organized and clear so users can focus and feel confident your website has what they are looking for.

Below, our web team shares the top five things that can ruin your website's first impression with slow load times, distractions, and poor content. Needless to say, these are five things you should NOT do on your website.

1. Auto-Play Music or Video on Your Homepage

We have never, ever heard anyone say "Wow, I love the music this website started playing all of a sudden when I got to the homepage." Be sensitive to the fact that people may be listening to their own music, sharing office space, or sitting in a quiet waiting room when they open your website and don't bombard them with sound.

What you SHOULD do: Videos and audio clips are valuable marketing tools so go ahead and put them on your homepage, make them visible, and let people press play on their own.

Stand Out at BookExpo America 2013

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Created on Thursday, February 21 2013

In our ongoing effort to help publishers connect with their audiences in fresh and innovative ways, Chakra offers a corporate merchandise program that goes beyond ink-on-paper to deliver your message. In addition to our core competencies in pre-publishing and print management, our diverse team delivers expertise in corporate merchandising, providing insight about the best products, from USB cards and smart phone accessories to flashlights and apparel, to match your brand and create meaningful engagement with your audience.

For last year's BookExpo America, Chakra assisted Grove Atlantic in promoting their upcoming releases with custom USB cards designed to look just like the book cover and carrying digital information for effective and cost efficient sneak previews of the books. These credit-card sized items were packed with information that helped promote the books and also acted as a current and unique way for Expo attendees to experience the content.

The USB cards are just one example of our unique approach to delivering a message and making you stand out with promotional merchandise. Here are more examples of how Chakra can help you create a unique experience for your audience at BookExpo America 2013:

Chakra's Bowling for Junior Achievement!

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Created on Tuesday, February 19 2013

Since its inception, Chakra has been a proud sponsor of the annual Junior Achievement of Western New York Bowl-A-Thon, providing the organization with complimentary print services for their bowling lane sponsor banners. The annual Bowl-A-Thon raises money towards Junior Achievement's volunteer-based programs which help young people develop the skills they need to prepare for the realities and opportunities of work and entrepreneurship. Each year Junior Achievement USA programs reach 4.7 million students in 176,000 classrooms nationwide. In the Western New York community, JA has provided young people with financial literacy, economic education, and work readiness skills, reaching more than 12,400 students in 686 classrooms each year since 1958.

Google Places for Local Search Success

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Created on Thursday, February 14 2013

According to Google, 97% of consumers search for local businesses online. In order to benefit from the huge number of potential customers using the internet to find a local business, your website needs to be at the top of those search results.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to get your website to the top of local search results is having a Google Places Page claimed and optimized with information about your business. The best thing about a Google Places Page is that it can show up above some of the organic search results so you are among the top listings on the Google search results page. Google Places is an easy to use, free tool to help you increase your exposure in location specific Google search results so you can reach your local audience and increase your customer base.

Chakra Team Welcomes Mark Knerr

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Created on Tuesday, February 12 2013

Chakra is excited to welcome Business Development Consultant Mark Knerr to their team.

Chakra's new Business Development Consultant offers a unique perspective with his background in the health and fitness industries. Mr. Knerr is a nurse with almost 10 years of experience and actively participates in the local fitness community as an avid cyclist and runner. With this diverse background and network, Mr. Knerr will enable Chakra to expand its client base and help a broader range of businesses connect with their audiences. Mr. Knerr is an enthusiastic go-getter who demonstrates a passion for helping his clients achieve their goals and grow. Mr. Knerr consistently thinks innovatively to develop new and "out-of-the-box" ways to assist his clients in reaching and engaging their audiences and attracting new customers. Mr. Knerr is a tireless team member and a wonderful addition to Chakra's staff.