The Trick to SEO Is Not to Rely on Tricks
As a studio that specializes in digital design and development, clients often ask if we have SEO tips and tricks to help get their site or product ranked higher in Google. The intention is great. They want to be seen by more people online, which is a smart way to grow business organically. When everyone wants to be seen, though, it creates a highly competitive space. Several years ago, this cro...
New Launch: Tony Pasquale - National Voice Talent
"Hey, I know that guy!" That's what people say when they hear Tony Pasquale's work. Tony is a national voice talent that has worked with all the top brands and agencies, and we guarantee that, unless you live under a rock, you've heard his voice before. Needing an upgrade to his brand and some custom web design that Weebly couldn't offer, Tony reached out after having seen some of our past work...
Know What You're Really Getting with a WordPress "Specialist"
It's like the Wild West with agencies throwing around terms like "specialist" and "expert," which may or may not mean they actually know what they're doing. This is especially true when it comes to website creation. There aren't many widely publicized certifications that consumers know to trust to validate a web expert, so it can be hard to sniff out the real McCoy. That's why we're here to help.
New Launch: Leisurlist
Leisurlist is a new website and app that tracks absolutely everything there is to eat, see, and do in Northwest Arkansas. We were excited to be given the opportunity to design everything from the logo to the website and iOS and Android apps as well as tackling the development of this large project.
Sometimes a Professional Can't Be Replaced by a Tool
Website builders like WordPress, Squarespace, Weebly and Wix have become a popular option for non-tech people to dabble in building their own web presence. Honestly, we can see the appeal. DIY web builders can be inexpensive to set up, and many come with visual page editors that are fairly easy to figure out. So, what's the rub? Well, there can be a few traps to these tools.Let's walk through t...
Why You Should Go Beyond Social Media to Boost Your Business
First of all, it's smart for businesses to have a social media presence. Social platforms can offer credibility and give you a place to meet and interact with customers - and hopefully turn them into raving fans. It shouldn't be the only digital footprint for your business, though. Businesses that only have a social media page are missing out on potential customers and sales.
New Launch: George's Majestic Lounge
George's Majestic Lounge is the oldest live music venue in Arkansas and a Fayetteville staple. After thousands of shows with some of the biggest artists in the country, it's no wonder why George's has received accolades from the nations top publications. If you haven't been to a show at George's, you're missing out. And now, it's easier than ever to find all the information you'll need at their...
New Launch: Daniels & Flynt
Daniels & Flynt is an accounting firm in Bentonville, AR that provides a myriad of financial services to individuals, families, and businesses all across Northwest Arkansas. Their old website was running on an outdated Wordpress installment with an old theme that was susceptible to hacking scripts (Wordpress is notoriously insecure). We were able to step in and provide a great looking new w...
New Launch: 102.7 FM
When a small classic rock radio station decides on an identity and marketing overhaul, there are a lot of big decisions to make. One of the biggest questions is whether or not to invest in a new website. For 102.7 FM, based in Kansas City, MO area, the answer was a resounding yes. They reached out to us to see what their best options were.They already had a nice, newly designe...
New Launch: Say It With Beef
We've been fortunate to work with what is probably one of the most unique products you'll hear about. Say It With Beef is a tasty alternative to flower and card giving that will leave anyone's mouth watering. Born out of a kind gesture to a sick friend, Say It With Beef started with a handmade bouquet of roses made entirely out of beef jerky. Today, you can get roses and daisies in a variety of...
New Launch: Deerboy
"I'm not a cowboy, I'm a Deerboy." Those were some of the first words we heard when approached by the Deerboy team to describe their products and vision of their new lifestyle company. Deerboy isn't just about hunting deer, it's a year long obsession and love for the outdoors. Whether you're sitting in a tree stand in November, planting crops in the spring, or enjoying a day a...
If You're Not Using SVGs, You're Doing It Wrong.
That's a strong statement, but one we strongly believe in. There are simply very few cases where using PNG or JPG files for your logos, icons, and graphics are still preferable. Over and over again we run into new websites that look absolutely terrible on new retina, 4k, and 5k monitors. Logos, icons, and graphics are incredibly blurry - simply because the team that built the website is stuck i...
New Launch: Hatch & Maas Collective
Everyone in Northwest Arkansas knows who Hatch & Maas Collective is. If you don't, you're missing out on some of the best photography in the world. Their lifestyle-oriented photography is perfect for any occasion. Whether you're needing beautiful wedding photos, slick senior portraits, or stunning commercial imagery, their experience and professionalism is top notch. Hatch & Maas is our...
New Launch: Dozier Capital Partners
We recently completed the identity, design, development, and launch for Dozier Capital Partners. Dozier Capital is a group that invests in companies across multiple stages, structures, asset classes, and industries. They are based right here in Northwest Arkansas providing the guidance and investment capital that businesses need to grow and excel long-term.
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All About Turn Left Skatepro
The sport of roller derby has been on a major comeback over the last several years. It's been modernized and legitimized to the point where you can pick up some games on ESPN. Needless to say, there is a vast growing market for roller derby and roller derby gear and apparel. While there are several shops around the country and world that sell gear, there are even fewer who sell online. Out of t...
Weekly Favorite: Twenty-Two Degrees
Once a week we pick a website that we either love or hate. We break it down and explain what's working and what's not. This week it's Twenty-Two Degrees.Who are they?Twenty-Two Degrees describes themselves like this:22 DEGREES IS MADE UP OF A NETWORK OF FREELANCERS. OUTSTANDING CREATIVE DIRECTORS, ART DIRECTORS, WEB DESIGNERS, DEVELOPERS AND ILLUSTRATORS THAT ARE ABLE TO BRING TO OUR PROJECTS T...
New Launch: Buffington Homes of Arkansas
We are very excited to announce the brand new website for Buffington Homes of Arkansas! Buffington Homes builds high quality, modern homes all across Northwest Arkansas and they needed a website design that reflected that. In addition to making sure that we provided a quality experience across all screen sizes and devices, our main goal was to capture that "wow" moment you get when walking into...
New Launch: East Texas Brick Admin System
We recently teamed up with CUE Creative, a great agency out of Tyler, TX, to provide a simple way for their client East Texas Brick to manage and maintain their various product offerings such as bricks, furniture, fireplaces, etc. Our aim was to create a system that would allow the users to quickly and efficiently add, edit, and remove products with any device. As with ...
Why We Created The Matchstick Framework
The year is now 2016. We have electric cars, drones that can drop your purchases on your front lawn, even reusable rockets. Yet most websites and online stores are running on platforms and technology that are 10+ years old. If you've been creating websites or have had a website over the past decade you've likely heard of Wordpress (initial relea...
This Week in Review - It's A Shape Christmas
Once a week here at Matchstick Studio we pick a website that we found to be particularly remarkable for one reason or another. We break it down and explain what's working and what's not. This week we are taking a look at It's a Shape Christmas.ABOUT THE WEBSITEIt's a Shape Christmas started in 2011, Shape created a collaboration project tha...
How do I get my startup featured on Mashable or TechCrunch?
This is one of the most common questions we get asked. People always want to know how we got The Matboard (one of our internal projects) featured on Mashable, what the process was like and how much it helped our growth. We've decided to share our experience, and hope to see your startup or side-project on the front page of the internet very soon...
