Andrew Searles

Andrew is of two minds. Part designer, part code-junkie, Andrew studied graphic design under the renowned Richard Dendy at Samford University. He brings a subtle eye for detail to every project. But after hearing “that can’t be done” from developers on one too many projects, Andrew immersed himself into the world of programming. A dangerous business, admittedly, since it requires exploration of both the left and right brain and few people return from that perilous expedition.

For our clients, he makes the Web work. He helps keep it relevant to their clients. He’s very particular that the code beneath the surface is as elegant and beautiful as the design on the monitor. And it’s that persnickety approach that ensures our clients’ Web ventures work precisely as they are intended. Andrew is a great communicator, he even knows what all those acronyms mean—you know, SEO, SEM, XML, XSL, XHTML, CSS, RSS, FLV.

Indeed, Andrew is the model for the modern art director, and while there are multiple sides to his personality, he balances both sides of his brain well.

Before he joined FitzMartin, Andrew saw a bit of the world. After college he worked for the Peace Corp teaching computers/web design in the African nation of Benin. Considering they speak more than 60 languages in a country the size of Pennsylvania, he developed a wicked sharp ability to decipher someone’s meaning, even if the speaker doesn’t quite understand what their trying to say. That’s another useful skill for a web designer/developer.

After Africa, Andrew moved to London where his wife finished a Master’s degree in History, before returning to Birmingham and FitzMartin. Today they’ve embarked on another lifelong challenge—a beautiful daughter, Olivia.

andrew@fitzmartin.com

I recently presented to a sales team about digital technologies and “that social media thing.” They wanted to know what social media was and what they should be doing. They asked simple questions like, “Would it really be beneficial to have a facebook page?” or “How much time is this going to take out of my day?” I get questions like these quite a bit. They have heard about social media but they want to know what will work for them.David Sher, president of AmSher, recently wrote in the Birmingham Business Journal, “Social media has changed the rules of business. If your company does not have a serious social media strategy, then you’re at a disadvantage.” His article was titled, “Why social media matters to business-to-business companies.” He wasn’t talking to large commercial brands or even local retail stores. He was talking to you. When it comes down to it, business-to-business sales are about relationships and that’s what social media essentially is.

But don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying you need to be involved in every social media outlet that the web has to offer. The best thing to do is decide what would be the simplest and easiest step for your company to take. Take that small step and measure the results. It’s also important that remember that social media, like every other marketing tool, is not a magic bullet. You can expect to get back what you put into it.

Start with an action plan. A serious social media strategy ensures that you are spending your time and other resources effectively. As you plan your strategy, make sure to cover all your bases. If you need help, download a PDF of our basic plan below.

FitzMartin

Business to Business Marketers

Interactive Art Director

Most recent post