Working with HamiltonBerchman Design Group, DBA was able to create a simple, clean company portfolio available to clients via the Internet. The objective was to create a website that presented their work in an aesthetically pleasing way without getting in the way of the work.

About Davis Brown Architecture
Davis Brown Architecture is a boutique design firm with offices in Ojai and Venice, California.

Its diverse portfolio reflects a profound engagement of the work with the natural setting.  Climate, solar orientation, soil, and local weather patterns – including fire and flood cycles – are critical to the firm’s understanding of the environment and inform its long- standing embrace of sustainable strategies.

The practice is defined by its commitment to a collaborative design process that encourages the contributions of the client, consultants and builders; at its core is an ability to address the client’s practical and aesthetic needs while fully responding to the contextual matrix.

About HamiltonBerchman
HamiltonBerchman Design Group helps organizations increase their relevance by designing and developing custom web-based communications and is dedicated to developing a personal and responsive relationship with every client. HamiltonBerchman was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Ojai, CA with their team of professionals positioned in Portland, San Diego, and Poland. www.hamiltonberchman.com

HamiltonBerchman recently completed work on a microsite with PULL Inc for the Affinity Group brand Woodall’s.

Affinity Group is a leading publisher of recreational outdoor enthusiast magazines. One of its hallmark brands is Woodall’s, North America’s best known publisher of RV and Family Camping travel directories in print and online. Woodall’s Campground Directories are a highly dependable and accurate resource for people who are passionate about the RV lifestyle.

We worked with PULL’s expert brand development leadership. PULL provided guidance to Woodall’s marketing team in developing the true line “Everywhere RVers go” as the cornerstone of a new communication initiative to reinforce the brands competitive advantage. HamiltonBerchman brought the communications to life on the Internet with the development of the microsite and an email communications initiative.

The microsite was lauched in the first quarter 2009 to rave reviews by Woodall’s North American sales organization.

Ojai, CA – February 09, 2009 – Dennison+Wolfe Internet Group, a web communications agency for budget-conscious businesses wanting to do it right, today announced the company launch and a new website at www.DennisonWolfe.com.

Dedicated to providing affordable, professional web and marketing services, Dennison+Wolfe was co-founded by two internet veterans who together bring decades of experience in web development, internet strategy, online communities, technology and media.

Bert Mahoney, Chief Creative Officer, has developed a refined sense of effective design focused on usability, architecture and simplicity. He is also President/Creative Director of HamiltonBerchman Design Group, Inc. and Director of Internet Strategy and Services for AIGA Santa Barbara.

Tyler Suchman, Chief Strategy Officer, has built a thriving internet strategy consultancy over the last seven years, helping a wide variety of clients effectively build their business and do business online under the Tribal Core banner. He is the founder of The Ojai Post, the largest community website in the Ojai Valley, and was named to the 2007 Top 40 Under 40 by the Pacific Coast Business Times.

“We believe that it shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg to put your web strategy in place, with the t’s crossed and the i’s dotted by people who care about your business,” stated Suchman. “We believe that on a modest budget, we can make your web presence remarkable, and exceed your expectations.”

Dennison+Wolfe offers professional, personalized web packages that are ideal for a company looking for a fresh look or just starting up. From just $999, services include a personalized look-and-feel, marketing services and simplified content management giving clients the ability to edit and add web content from any computer or cell phone.

The partners are committed to the double bottom-line, and have ambitious plans to donate web packages and web hosting to non-profits and other socially responsible organizations on a regular basis.

For more information, visit www.DennisonWolfe.com.

About Dennison+Wolfe Internet Group
D+W is a web communications agency for budget conscious businesses wanting to do it right. The company offers a suite of professional and affordable services accessible to the smallest of companies with the biggest of dreams. Web Packages start at only $999, and include personalization, marketing services, including email newsletter marketing, and a leading content management system.

Media Contact:
Leslie Davis
leslie@neuhouse.com
(805) 272-5410

February 2009

In this issue

1. DesignDetails: RIP
2. But Wait, There’s More!

Hi,

DesignDetails: RIP

I wanted to send out this e-mail to let you know what’s happening with DesignDetails. If you recall we’re in the middle of the six part series dealing with the “Multi-Headed Monster.” The next installment in this series has to do with video, or more specifically using video on the Internet for your business. This topic has inspired me to take the leap and start producing videos as a means of communicating DesignDetails. And producing videos has made me reflect on some things.

But Wait, There’s More!

I’ve been reflecting on the mission and purpose of DesignDetails as a whole. DesignDetails actually has a bit of a branding problem. Its titled “DesignDetails” so one would think that it’s all about design, right? Initially that was the idea but over the 2 years I have been publishing the e-newsletter the topic coverage has changed. The content that’s published each month is more about using the Internet, the tools it provides, and how to use those tools to communicate the service and value you have to offer people.

I’ve decided to take this opportunity to not only re-brand “DesignDetails,” but also put all of the content that I publish under this brand into its own website. I am removing my company brand, HamiltonBerchman Design Group, from that of the e-mail newsletter and digging the content out from my company website where it currently resides.

The new website is currently in development and will be launched sometime in March. It will continue to serve as a clearinghouse of information regarding tips, techniques and tools that you can use to get the most out of what the Internet has to offer you and your business. I hope to bring other voices to the table to share their expertise, and I encourage you to bring your voice to the website as well. You will have the ability to comment, question, and share beyond the initial blog postings.

So what is it called?

The title of the new brand is “We Speak Internet.” The Internet has a language all its own. The ability to speak that language is key to tapping into the power the Internet offers. We have some great ideas for the web site and definitely welcome your comments and questions.

Looking forward to launching soon.

Wrap up

That’s it for this month of DesignDetails. In fact this is it for DesignDetails, period.

Let me know if you have any questions. I always welcome questions and feedback to provide value.

Are you facing a challenge or have a question relating to the Internet? Please share. I can answer your questions and share with everyone.

Do you know someone in need of expert help or advice with web communications? I always welcome your referrals of friends, colleagues, and family. And let me know if you welcome referrals as well.

This is part 4 of a 6 part series.

Social Media. You may have heard of the term or not. You may be an avid user of one of more of these web sites providing social media services or not. If you are congratulations. If you are not, you need to get networked.

How do Social Media web sites work?

Networks. There are many types of networks we all deal with.

• Road Networks
  Gets you from one place to another
• Computer Networks
  Get information from one place to another
• People Networks
  Open up opportunities from one person to another

Social Media makes use of people networks. When you participate in Social Media web sites you make connections to people you already know in the “real world” and you also make connections to people you meet online.

The power in these connections lies in not so much who you know, but who knows who you know. The people that are a second and third degree of separation from you. In this scenario if you are looking for something specific, or an opportunity you can put it out to your “social media network.” It is likely that someone you know knows someone who can help you out.

It is really a simple concept and a very powerful one yet I think many people dismiss the power of this type of communication. Some people think that using Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter is a complete waste of time. I have to disagree. I have found help and answers to questions from tapping into my networks.

You Can’t Be Everywhere and Everything to Everyone.

You have to pick your networks. Some people chose to use one network exclusively where other people use multiple. I use three:

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• and Facebook

These are just my preferences at the moment and I use each one for different networks and purposes. I have experimented with others but these are the tools I find myself using almost exclusively. The key is to try one and get started. One note: You should not feel compelled to be on every site.

Chris Brogan said it well in a post called Do You Have To Touch Every Conversation. Chris says: “There are gazillions of other conversations that I’m not touching, that Seth isn’t touching, that Scoble or Kawasaki or whoever the heck you want to put in the *.person.who.should.join.the.conversation should be touching. But is that really the goal? Or is the goal to fish where your fish are, to do what you plan to do, and to do it well?”

As always, let me know if you have any questions or comments please share below.