| |
|
About
|
Breaking Even Communications (BEC) provides internet marketing and web content creation services to small businesses and nonprofits. Through social media, paid advertising, blogging, and other types of online outreach, BEC will help businesses create and maintain useful websites and promote their products and services online. There are two facets to BEC. The first is creating web content for businesses and organizations. This is mostly written material for a website or blog but other available services include video, photography, and podcasting. BEC partners with experienced professionals to both organize and manage the creation of this content. In creating the content for (and at times with) you, BEC helps you communicate with your chosen web designer ensuring a beautifully designed and functional website that is created in a timely manner. The second aspect of BEC is providing internet marketing solutions for businesses and organizations. Using online (and mostly free) tools, as well as content the business or organization is already generating, BEC finds ways for companies to use the internet for branding purposes and to increase traffic to their websites. These plans are very individualized and in line with the organization's marketing goals, budgets, and resources. Strategies may include building relevant relationships with bloggers, researching key words to increase search engine optimization, and creating a presence on social media websites. |
|
|
Not sure? Click on the flow chart to see which service package is right for you!
Business Packages
Website Maintenance Package- $200/month
There is always more to do on a website. Increasing search engine ranking and posting new information can be just two more items on your to-do list. BEC can not only maintain your website but make sure it gets better with age. Includes a monthly analytics report with analysis so you can track your web visitors and provide them more of what they are looking for.
Online Reputation Management Package- $200/month
Monitoring the online reputation about your company allows you to be responsive. BEC monitors search engines, social media websites, review website posts, and forum posts daily for posts about or related to your business. You will be emailed when something is posted about you or your business so you can respond accordingly. Includes monthly report summarizing online reputation for tracking over time.
Social Media Maintenance Package- $200/month
Once your social media pages are created, it's important to maintain them with news about your business, employees, products, services, and other information. BEC can post updates across all social media channels you use. Just email information and BEC takes care of the rest. Includes Flickr, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other popular sites.
Email Marketing Package- $250
BEC can use your current email contacts to start an email list for your company that you can grow from your website and/or storefront. Price includes creation a CAN-SPAM compliant template, importing email list, and training on a no-cost, popular email marketing service so you can do an email send as often as you like. (Email sending and writing services also available.)
Social Media Creation Package- $500
Creation of branded social media accounts including Twitter page, Facebook Business Page, LinkedIn Profile, Flickr account, and Youtube (or Vimeo) channel. Include desired call-to-action with every page and links connecting the accounts together and your business webpage. Includes remote training and written instructions on how to maintain accounts.
Blog Creation Package- $500
Create a blog using Wordpress, Blogger, Tumblr, or Posterous. Includes helping you chose what service is best for you, creation of custom header, selecting and installing a theme(background colors, etc.), adding up to five features/widgets to increase blog functionality. Instructions for maintaining blog included. (Blog maintenance and writing services also available.)
Corporate Training Package- $500/two hours
Train up to five employees (or set-up a training with fellow business owners) on website software (like Joomla or Wordpress), social media websites (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Flickr, Youtube), iLife software (iMovie, iPhoto), and more. BEC will create a presentation for your business and use it to train employees in a fun, professional, and cost effective way. Includes handouts of slides which serve as notes for the presentation.
Website 'General Contracting' Package- $1500-$2500+ (depending on website size)
BEC can take the stress away from creating or redesigning a website by going over technical and content options with you. After deciding, BEC will write a request for proposals, which you can post to a crowd sourcing website (Ex. 99designs) and/or send to potential designers to get the best website for your business. Once your website is completed, BEC can train you to use your website's software for easy updates. Note: BEC does not accept commission from designers or websites, ensuring unbiased advice in your best interest.
Multi-Month Discount: Sign on for 3 months, get 10% off. Sign on for 6 months, get 20% off.
*Prices above reflect remote service, site visit available for additional fee.
Want more options? Ask BEC's clients about their experience, check out this website and BEC's social media presence, or contact Nicole. |
|
Nicole was born and raised in the scenic town of Fort Kent, Maine where her family ran (and continues to run) the local hardware store.
She attended Bates College in Lewiston, Maine where she graduated with honors in 2003 with a major in geology and a secondary concentration in French.
She continued her education at the University of Maine Fort Kent where she majored in Secondary Education and French, graduating with honors in 2005. While attending UMFK, Nicole worked for Le Club Français to organize a regional French library and the Québec-Labrador Foundation gathering information for the Voici The Valley Cultureway.
Upon graduation, Nicole moved to Vinalhaven, a beautiful Maine island where she worked in partnership with Project CO-SEED and the Island Institute on hands-on, place-based education projects with Vinalhaven School. It is during this time that Nicole found an interest and aptitude in helping teachers and students understand technology and began experimenting with social networking on her own personal blog.
After two years on 'the rock', Nicole moved to Ellsworth in the fall of 2007 to work for The Ellsworth American and Mount Desert Islander newspapers on their website. She not only learned about the technical workings of websites, but also recruited bloggers, created podcasts and photo galleries, edited video, designed internet ads, sold website advertising, used social media to promote content, and wrote news stories.
Nicole began the Breaking Even blog in October 2007, which became a daily blog in January 2008. It was around that time that a local business woman asked Nicole for help with her blog, and Breaking Even Communications was born. The internet marketing and web content creation company grew and Nicole was able to take the business full time in May 2009.
Nicole currently lives in downtown Bar Harbor with her Corgi mix, Gidget. |
|
The Breaking Even blog began in October 2007 as a personal finance blog. It is growing and evolving but it remains about money and "personal finance … with personality"! The BE blog is about interaction of life and money including how to save money, how to make more money, and how to be happy with the money you have. And since Breaking Even Communications is now a full time business, the Breaking Even blog is also talking about running a small business. The business and blog, while related, are separate, but Nicole certainly hopes you enjoy both. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As Featured in Maine Ahead
|
|
