Nesting Habitat of the Thirsty Lizards

While this entry could go under “News” instead of “Development,” the new Rose Garden Coffeehouse web site uses the Thirsty Lizard template’s abilities to time pages and content. The web site is a 30+ pages and growing, with many nuances. The key component is the ability for it to automatically remove shows from its home page automatically after each show is over.

This means the schedule for the year can be posted once over the summer and change without the webmaster touching it during the course of its season. Nice!

At Thirsty Lizards, we’re all about teamwork.

So when Jonathan Edwards wanted to bring in Beverly Howell, a classy, web-savvy music promoter and designer, to work on his new web site, we were more than happy to oblige. Beverly worked with the Lizards to develop a sophisticated new design, with an advanced online web editor that has taken Jonathan’s new web site to the next level.

Check out Jonathan’s new web site at: www.jonathanedwards.net

Of course your visitors can use it to send an inquiry to you, but did you know there’s a whole lot more functionality that you can use to grow your exposure? Try adding text to your “Contact Us” page to build a mailing list of people specifically interested in your offerings! Then, each month, be sure to export those email addresses from your “contact” database and send a sweet invitation to all who signed up! Be sure it’s an offer you’d be happy to provide!

Can you offer “guest list passes and VIP seating for up to 6″ at one of your performances? Give it away to one lucky winner each month, and pack the house by letting your audience know where you’ll be performing in the upcoming weeks.

Do you have a product or service? How about an extra $50 off that MAY be combined with any other offer you are running for purchases in your store. If that doesn’t work for you, how about “buy 1, get 1 at half price”? Would an “invite a friend” offer work for your business? You could offer “Share the cost! Buy 1 at regular price, and invite a friend to attend for free.” With these ideas, you might come up with others that are more suited to grow YOUR business.

The point is, “Contact Us” is a convenient method for your visitors to contact you, but it also offers a whole lot more as a marketing and promotion tool, and a nice way to keep in touch with those who are already interested in what you have to offer!

We’re pleased to announce that IBMM, the International Bluegrass Music Museum’s web site went live on April 4, 2009.  IBMM, located in Owensboro, KY is the world’s foremost and most comprehensive bluegrass museum.  We are honored to have been selected to work on such a prestigious web site and with such a great group of people.  Visit the web site, then visit the museum (tell them we say “hi”) and then support your bluegrass museum so that they can continue to document “the tradition”.

When settling on a design for your web site, make sure to keep it simple. Complex designs may be lovely, but be careful that they don’t detract from your message. Remember that your web site is about information. That’s why people come there. While a pretty design may set a mood or tone, if people can’t find what they are looking for, you’ll lose them.

Click play to hear our radio ad, Web Sites that Work:

Well, the Lizards, once again, enjoyed their trip to the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival, held at the Sheraton in Framingham, Mass. People were jamming everywhere and the music was proactically non-stop from Friday night through most of Sunday. Well-known acts abounded, including legendary band-leader Bobby Osborne and 2008’s seven-time IBMA winners Dailey & Vincent.

I didn’t get photos of everyone this year. Instead I focused on a few acts, Dry Branch Fire Squad, NewFound Road, The Kruger Brothers, Charlie Sizemore, the Josh Williams Band, Bobby Osborne and Dailey & Vincent. Below are some of my photos …

Steve

So the Lizards are at Joe Val, enjoying a Sheraton hotel filled with pickers, lots of workshops and stage performances.

Here is a video to give a flavor of the music and the variety as we roam the halls:

Scenes from the 2009 Joe Val Bluegrass Festival from The Patriot Ledger on Vimeo.

The Lizards are on their way to the Joe Val Bluegrass Festival. We love heading to the warmth of the Sheraton in Framingham in the middle of winter to hear some of our favorite bluegrass musicians perform.

Look for us there. We’ll be the ones wearing white shirts bearing our Lizard logo. Come over and say hi!