Happy Holidays from 305 Spin

2013 has been another amazing year. This July, we celebrated our 20th Anniversary. And what an exciting and fulfilling 20 years it has been. I am not sure there has ever been a more evolving industry than the world of the Internet and the technology that surrounds it. All the changes we have seen are truly amazing. And the fact that we continue to be so successful is truly satisfying.

And yet, the technology and our adapting to it is not our greatest achievement or the most important part of our success. That would be our incredible client base that we work with and the relationships that we have come to enjoy over the years. It is such a pleasure coming to work every day when we have such wonderful and supportive clients to work with. The many endearing friendships that we have made with so many of you over the years is such a blessing.

We are also blessed to have such a great team working with us here at 305. We have probably our best team that we have ever had rocking projects for us. Whether they are working at the Sedalia office, or in Denver, Sacramento, Tucson, Houston, we have it covered. Our diverse skillsets cover design, web development, SEO, PPC, API, web services, database, backoffice programming, high end webhosting and so much more. The talent is pretty impressive.

Finally, thank you for thinking about us with all the great gifts and cards. Once again, we will be making donations on behalf of all our clients to some select worthy causes. This year we are pleased to announce that in addition to our contribution to the Peggy White Memorial - Ponca Bible Camp in Ponca, Arkansas, we have made contributions to Open Door, a local organization that provides meals and basic necessity resources in our area; The Boys and Girls Club of West Central Missouri; and Sacred Heart School's National Honor Society sponsored Christmas Eve dinner for the unemployed, elderly, and disabled in Pettis County. We also helped raise over $50,000 to fight cancer this year. As we continue to grow, we will always look to give back and help when and where we can.

We are extremely excited about what 2014 will bring and we look forward to the opportunities and challenges throughout the New Year. I can't wait to see what the next 20 years will bring and the many success stories that we will be able to share with you.

Blessings and Goodwill.
Peace on Earth
All our Best to you and yours
from all of us at 305 Spin
CHEERS!

Our Sedalia Office Staff
John, Matt, Kelly, Jarrett, Kevin and Qiao

Holiday Hours
The 305 Spin office will be closed
December 25, 26 and 27
January 1

305 SPIN’S KEVIN WHITE PARTICIPATES IN “HACK THE MIDWEST” 24-HOUR HACKATHON EVENT

305 SPIN’S KEVIN WHITE PARTICIPATES IN “HACK THE MIDWEST” 24-HOUR HACKATHON EVENT

SEDALIA, MO, June 18th 2013—June 15th and 16th at Kansas City’s Sporting Park was home to a 24 hour hackathon “Hack the Midwest” competition for designers and developers to come together and create new, innovative apps.

Approximately 100 plus designers and developers came together as teams to build software projects within a very small timeframe and compete for cash and prizes. Other than cash and prizes, contestants gathered for the Hack the Midwest event to hone their skills, connect with other local developers, learn about new tools, and to develop new skills. 305’s Lead Developer, Kevin White, participated with the KC Cauldron Group to create “WarmUp” a tailgating app for fans in attendance at events at Sporting Park.

The KC Cauldron Team also pioneered the app “Cappo,” a soccer culture platform to unite fans all across the world.

Judges for the Hack the Midwest competition included Sandy Kemper (Founder & CEO, C2FO), Vercie Lark (CIO, DST Systems), Evan Conway (President, OneLouder), and Dennis Ehrich (CIO, SMG). Applications were judged on merit for completeness, user interface, originality, and usefulness in categories such as Best In Show, Most Entertaining, and Most Technically Challenging.



About the App, WarmUp, developed by Kevin White and the KC Cauldron Team:

“Make a new friend by offering a ride to someone else. What if you need a ride and don't know who to contact, how do you repay their kindness? Ever try to find your friends or family at a tailgating event? Want to offer food, drinks, and games to meet new friends? Don't know which parking lot is which?

Then this app is for you. Easily see who needs rides to the game, try to catch a ride yourself, see where your parking lot is without having to deal with paper printouts or asking a stranger on the street. Reward someone's kindness by giving them a Cauldron Credit that they can redeem through the Cauldron to get merchandise. Didn't have time to bring your own food and drinks? See who's offering just that and make new friends. Join in on various tailgating games being played without wondering if it's okay to join fellow supporters. And if you enjoy yourself a little too much and partake in the libations to the point of inebriation, you can find a compassionate soul who can provide a lift home, what else do want from the this app?! How about traffic! Got it. Weather? Done.

By simply using this app you can do all of these things without having to feel like you are missing out. Be in the middle of all the events happening at your next tailgating event!”

The WarmUp App was developed in an all-night event lasting a mere 24 hours in time, with only 2 programmers and 3 designers.



About 305 Spin:

305 Spin is a full service internet technology company focused on producing unparalleled websites and providing reliable scalable systems to support them. July 2013 marks the 20th Anniversary in business providing website development and internet marketing services. 305 Spin provides services to customers all over the United States in industries such as manufacturing, cellular technology, record labels, restaurants, hospitality companies, publishers, healthcare, accounting firms and many more.

To contact 305 Spin or to find out more, please visit our website at www.305spin.com.



About Kevin White:

While this was Kevin’s first “hackathon,” he has been employed as an applications developer for 305 Spin since 2005 and professionally programming since 2003. Kevin’s development skills began as a hobby in 1994, and have since grown to well over 300 different programs and applications. Learn more about Kevin by reading his bio here.



305 Spin Services include:

Website Development

Award Winning Website Design

E-Commerce

Intranets & Extranets

Mobile Websites

Mobile Applications

Search Engine Optimization (SEO, SERP, PPC)

Custom Content Management

Social Media

Email Marketing & Email Management

Online Training

Website Hosting

Web Analytics

EQX Scientific has a new site!

EQX Scientific has introduced a new website! EQX, a division of Equinox Chemicals is a scientific supply and distribution company with a diversified product portfolio.

Visit their website at www.eqxscientific.com to view EQX Products, including Chemicals, Filters, and Microbiology, specialty chemicals, and company info online.

EQX’s online search tool allows you to search for specific products and drill down to specifically what you’re looking for in an instant! With options for one time or reoccurring orders, EQX has made managing your supplies a breeze.

305 Spin is proud to partner with EQX Chemicals to bring them a fully functional website for e-commerce, product display, and online marketing presence. Visit www.eqxscientific.com today for more information regarding their products.

Check out the NEW Ivory Grille & Oak Room!

Introducing the new and improved Ivory Grille & Oak Room Websites!

In partnership with 305 Spin, one of Sedalia’s finest restaurants, the Ivory Grille has launched a new website. The new website showcases the improvements made to the crown jewel of the Hotel Bothwell, featuring daily and Happy Hour Specials, full menu, dining hours, reservations, and private event details! 

The Ivory Grille, inside the Historic Hotel Bothwell

With the tagline of “Meet Me at the Grille” the new site has diners buzzing about the daily lunch and dinner specials—all of which can be seen right on the new site.

What’s even better is the new and improved Oak Room! The historic lounge inside Hotel Bothwell has been recently updated to a swanky, glamorous destination for specialty cocktails, fine wines and even the full dinner menu from the Ivory Grille.

The Oak Room, with the Ivory Grille

View the Ivory Grille and Oak Rooms online at www.theivorygrille.com or by visiting their location in downtown Sedalia at 317 South Ohio Avenue Sedalia MO 65301. Reservations can be made by calling 660-829-0060.

What exactly IS search engine optimization??

We hear it all the time.  "What exactly is SEO?"

Or better yet, "WHY do I even need SEO?"

Don't worry, it's not a silly question and trust us...you're not the only one asking 305 Spin.  And while we have been employing these tactics within our website builds for years now, SEO has started to take on a life of it's own in this ever competitive market.  Let's break it down...

WHAT IT'S NOT:  Magic tricks.  Special red buttons.  It doesn't involve unicorns--or quadricorns, for that matter.  A large payment to a mobster or mafia member is not necessary.  Or the one mistake we commonly see the most, a single strategy done over and over again until you 'Have to eventually make a dent! Right?!'  

WHAT IT IS: A solid set of Best Practices implemented not only into the framework of the website, but a long term comprehensive strategy.  It will take a team of people with multi-faceted strategies working with on-site updates, social media, relevant content, and valuable links.  It's a solid marketing strategy that applies solely to your online presence and reputation.  Think of it as the online version of what your business has been doing to years (and in some of our clients cases, decades!) to be successful.

By definition, Search Engine Optimization is 'the process of affecting the visibility of a website or web page in a search engine's nature or organic search results.'  

I'm sure you're thinking, how do I know if I need to optimize my business for search engines?  Well, we haven't met many business who on some level need to be aware of their online presence.  With the way internet technology is taking over the world and growing so fast, statistics show that many people are either researching a product, service or business online before even considering picking up the phone or buying.  It's important to recognize that the more mobile and social we become through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even Pinterest, users are depending on searches to point them in the way of a business/product/service that is most relevant to what they need.  Of course, you, want to appear at the top of those search engine results in an organic search.

So how does 305 Spin fit into the picture with your business and SEO?  305 Spin has been in business since 1993 and offers only customized solutions for each business.  Our process begins with a comprehensive evaluation of the organic landscape, your competitors, and your online presence.  From there, we determine the best plan for attack and present to you a tailored program to insure you are positioning yourself in the most beneficial manner.  

Small, basic plans start as low as $500 per month and go up from there depending on how many hours each month should be dedicated to your online strategy.  Contact us today to learn more, even if it's just to learn more about what SEO can do for you!  TalkAboutIt@305spin.com.

Davidson Hotels & Resorts Unveils New Site

DAVIDSON HOTELS & RESORTS UNVEILS NEW WEBSITE AND ONLINE PORTFOLIO

ATLANTA, GA, March 13, 2013—Davidson Hotels & Resorts recently unveiled a new website design developed by 305 Spin, Inc. Davidson Hotels & Resorts is a privately held management company, holding a well admired portfolio of properties focused on the upper-scale and near-luxury segments. 

www.davidsonhotels.com





Davidson’s new website which was thoughtfully designed to show their passion and dedication to driving top line revenue features information regarding their Mission, History, Management Team, and Portfolio. Other features include:

• Gallery – Rich with beautiful color photos showcasing the property details such as lobby interior, rooms, bar & lounge, poolside areas, and exterior shots.
• Management Services – Broken down by three main categories (Operations, Food & Beverage/Catering, Sales and Marketing/Revenue Management), Davidson’s cutting edge focus on management systems and services shine!
• Newsroom – With current news and an archive, keep up with all the most recent Davidson Hotels & Resorts news as it happens.
• Careers – Find out why a career with Davidson Hotels & Resorts is not a job, it’s a calling. Search careers and see what it takes to be a part of the team!



Davidson Hotels & Resorts represents some of the finest hotels in the United States, including:

Radisson Hotel Bloomington by Mall of America

hotelVetro Studio Suites & Conference Center

Sheraton Iowa City Hotel

Renaissance St. Louis Airport

Embassy Suites Chicago-Downtown

Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile

Marriott Chicago at Medical District/UIC

Renaissance Chicago North Shore Hotel

Sheraton Ann Arbor Hotel

Hilton Boston Downtown/Faneuil Hall

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburg/Monroeville Convention Center

Sheraton Stamford Hotel

Hyatt Regency Newport

Hyatt Regency Princeton

Marriott Hanover

Marriott Teaneck at Glenpointe

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Washington DC

L’Enfant Plaza Hotel

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bethesda-Washington DC