Nerdy Llama!

This past summer, Ertel Publishing worked with the creative savants at Nerdy Llama Design & Marketing to revamp not only our company’s website, but also the websites for several of our magazines. The experience was fun and thought provoking, and we are very pleased with the results. In honor of our partnership with Nerdy Llama, we proudly present an interview with one of the chief llamas, Mike Rawers.

Ertel Publishing: In a nutshell, what "is" Nerdy Llama?

Mike Rawers: Nerdy Llama Design & Marketing is the brainchild of Nick Osborne and myself. I have a background in web design and programming, and Nick has a background in motion graphics and online marketing. We're both friends, and we both found ourselves taking on small side projects to keep our skills and minds sharp—and to make a little extra income. So we started a company together, and soon realized that not only are we good at what we were do, but we have fun doing it. And that's important. If you have fun working, you’re going to produce quality work.

For how long has the company been in existence?

We initially started the company as 2020 Media Online in 2005, but in 2008 we changed our name to Nerdy Llama Design & Marketing.

Why "Nerdy Llama"?

The name "Nerdy Alpaca" doesn't really role off your tongue.

Um…

But seriously, folks. I wish I could say that the llama represents our outlook on life, or that it has some very deep personal meaning, but no. We like to think of the llama as the anti-mascot. Also: a llama is not the most useful animal, but throw some glasses on one and it will look pretty nerdy.

Thanks for clarifying. So how would you describe the overall Nerdy Llama web design style?

Only one word comes to mind. "Awesome." For example: it is raining awesome, and I'm the only one outside without an umbrella. I'm completely soaked in it. Everyone else…bone dry.

I don't know how to respond.

[laughs like a monster]

Nerdy Llama recently designed websites for some of Ertel Publishing's magazines. In your mind, what is the ideal relationship between a printed publication, and a website promoting the publication?

Let me say this: publishers should not use a website to reinvent the wheel. Keep your content in your publication. A website can educate people about your publication; it is not there to be an online substitute. A website keep your readers updated and engaged on a daily basis, and allowing them sneak peeks at upcoming issues can increase interest. Publishers can also use websites to increase advertising revenue.


Your company designs online content. Do you think the demand for printed content will ever truly "die"?

Never say die!

Whoa…

Of course news publications are suffering today; it’s just too easy to get up-to-the-minute news online. But I still get excited when I get an issue of my favorite skateboard magazine, or my favorite music magazine, in the mail. There is a certain comfort in being able to hold your favorite publication and saying: “this is mine.”

Consider this statement: websites can generate money, but they aren't generating as much money as people had hoped they would. True or false?

True. Most websites are not fix-all moneymakers. However, websites can help make a good first impression, and a website that sparks interest and engages a customer has one-up on the competition. In the end, a good website can help to increase sales.

How effective is online marketing today?

Online marketing can be extremely effective when coupled with other marketing strategies, and when carried out in the correct manner. People don't need a slick-talking pitchman to tell them how amazing a product is. What people want are opinions and reviews from other people like themselves. Blogs, wikis, and social media networks are perfect starting points when looking for an honest opinion.

Another thing to consider: gone are the days of the groundbreaking email campaigns. Online marketing can be inexpensive, sometimes even free—but how often do you click on a web banner, or read junk mail? It makes sense to couple online marketing with traditional direct mail marketing. You can spark interest with the direct mail piece, and then offer your website as a resource for more information.

You bring up some interesting points that I think potential customers would appreciate hearing. This leads me to my final question: who, or what, is the ideal Nerdy Llama customer?

Businesses and individuals who need the quality, professionalism, and reliability of an in-house design team, but also the flexibility of a freelance designer who can respond quickly to any issue. Since Nerdy Llama is a team of freelance designers, we can easily work with our clients to lower costs and work within their budgets.

You can learn more about Nerdy Llama Design & Marketing at www.nerdyllama.com

Ohio Valley History

As much as we at Ertel Publishing look to the future, we love the past. In fact, all of the publications we design are historical in nature. This is not the result of some plan; instead, it has all happened quite organically, and we couldn’t be more pleased.

Beginning this year, Ertel Publishing started to design yet another historical publication--Ohio Valley History. This quarterly journal is published cooperatively by the Cincinnati Museum Center, the Filson Historical Society of Louisville, and the University of Cincinnati. Below is a discussion with Ruby Rogers, the Director of the Cincinnati Museum Center’s Library and one of the Managing Editors for Ohio Valley History.

Ertel Publishing: For how many years has Ohio Valley History been in publication?

Ruby Rogers: OVH began in 2001 as a partnership between the Cincinnati Museum Center and the University Of Cincinnati’s Department Of History. OVH replaced Queen City Heritage, which was published from 1983 to 1999.

What is the mission statement of the journal?

OVH is committed to publishing the best scholarship on the history and culture of the Ohio Valley and the Upper South from the 16th through the 21st centuries.

Overall, what has the response been to the journal?

The response has been very positive. After just eight years, OVH is the largest regional history journal in the country. With a subscription list of just about 7,500, OVH has more subscribers than the nation’s two other regional history journals combined.

How did the Cincinnati Museum Center end up working with the Filson Historical Society and the University of Cincinnati?

The initial partnership was the Museum Center and UC. In 2002, the Filson Historical Society approached us about a potential partnership that would ensure publication of four issues each year. Before the partnership with Filson, the Museum Center published three issues in 2001 and two issues in 2002.

How difficult is it to manage a publication that is essentially produced at three different locations?

Good communication is key. I don’t think we could manage without email. Each partner handles specific tasks and it all comes together.

What is something interesting or unique you have learned about the Ohio Valley since working on the journal?

Throughout the nine years of OVH, we have published several articles that compare Cincinnati and Louisville in terms of commerce, religion, slavery, politics, etc. I enjoy learning what the two cities have in common, but also how they differ.

Do you have a favorite article that has been published in the journal? And if so, what was it about?

For the 70th anniversary of the 1937 flood, we published a joint photo essay with images from Cincinnati and Louisville. I loved the result that clearly demonstrated the damage and havoc created by the Ohio River.

Why should people learn more about the Ohio Valley?

The Ohio Valley has played an important role in the history of the United States since the American Revolution. The better we understand how the region developed, the better prepared we are to deal with the present and prepare for the future.

Vintage Truck Show

Well hello!

Long time no post! Vicki and I know we have been slacking in the blogging department. However, things have been hopping at Ertel Publishing. New projects, new launches--things are rolling along!

We promise to update our blog on a regular, weekly basis. However, in the meantime, we would just like to mention that our 8th annual Vintage Truck Show will be held this upcoming Saturday (August 1), 9 a.m.–4 p.m. As always, it promises to be a good time!

The event is located on the grounds of Young’s Jersey Dairy on Route 68, 5 miles south of I-70 at Springfield, Ohio. The free event will include trophies for exhibitors and live music. Food and ice cream are also available.

Hopefully we'll see you there!

Kevin Doll and Walsworth Publishing Company

Authenticity and honesty go a long way in the publishing business, and one of the most authentic and honest people we have met is Kevin Doll. Kevin now works as a Sales Representative for the Commerical Division of Walsworth Publishing Company. We decided to shine a little light on Kevin and Walsworth, and to see how he and the company are handling the current economic whirlwind.

Ertel Publishing: For how long have you worked in printing sales?

Kevin Doll: I have been in the printing industry for 29 years.

When did you make the move to Walsworth?

I joined Walsworth in August of 2008 to help continue their growth in the magazine and catalog markets.

Tell us a little about Walsworth. How long has the company been around?
What does it print?

Walsworth Publishing Company is headquartered in Marceline, Missouri, a town commonly known as the boyhood home of Walt Disney. In 1937, three brothers, Don, Ed and Bill Walsworth, settled in Marceline to print playbills with a borrowed typewriter and a mimeograph machine. Soon the product line was expanded to include cookbooks and, following World War II, memorial books to honor those who had served their country.
In 1947, Walsworth began to produce yearbooks, which have been the company's mainstay ever since. In 1970, the Commercial division was established to balance the cyclical yearbook production schedule, adding textbooks, catalogs, magazines and other specialty publications to the Walsworth line.

Today, Walsworth is still a family-owned company that employs more than 1,250 people worldwide, and more than 250 of them have 20 or more years of service to the company. Walsworth boasts more than 675 employees who have attained the Master Printer of America status. Several members of various families work for Walsworth, and at times, those families have included three generations simultaneously.

Walsworth has become a technology leader in the printing industry, as part of our goal of providing customers with the best possible service while helping them produce printed products of superior quality.


What are some new initiatives/policies that are going to take place at
Walsworth during 2009?

As Walsworth continues to grow and invest in our company we now have available to our clients an interactive on-line publishing solution (flip-book) for their magazines and catalogs. This is capable of having an interactive Table of Contents along with audio and video for advertisers in the magazine. Our co-mailing capabilities also give Walsworth the opportunity to save our clients money spent on postage for their magazine and catalogs.

How are you and Walsworth handling the current recession?

All of us have to focus on moving forward and how we can help our current and future clients be successful and achieve their business goals. Although we have seen some page counts and print quantities down from a year ago our continued growth has come form helping new customers with their print needs. Continue to seek out more ways we can help our current customers be successful.

What is the current state of paper prices? Do you expect it to change
anytime soon? Why/why not?

Below are some comments and information I came across about the paper market:
Coated Papers
The enticement of much lower prices did not generate the hoped-for resurgence of orders in January.

Demand will improve in the second half of 2009 due to inventory, economic recovery and the benefit of dismal year-ago comparisons.

Prices are dropping hard in the first quarter of 2009, but downtime will temper the rate of further decline in the second quarter, followed by some stabilization and maybe even a slight recovery by the end of 2009.


Do you see any good news, or signs of life, in the printing business?

There were 715 new magazines launched in 2008 compared to 713 magazines launched in 2007. There are many reasons to be optimistic as we look forward and continue to grow our business. I believe that if all of us help enough other people achieve their goals we will find that we will have accomplished ours as well. This is true in both our personal and business lives.