Data Center Construction: Growing Opportunities for Contractors and Industrial Companies

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence and cloud computing is creating new opportunities for companies involved in construction, engineering, manufacturing, and industrial services. Houston will host the American Data Centers Construction Forum on October 28–29, 2026, bringing together data center developers, general contractors, engineers, equipment suppliers, and industry leaders to discuss the growing demand for […]

The Corvette Has Changed Over the Years. So Have Websites

I recently saw a bright yellow Corvette parked outside a business and had to take a picture. At first, I thought it was some kind of imported sports car. When I realized it was a Corvette, I started thinking about how much the car has changed over the years. Growing up, I knew exactly what […]

Why Are We Surprised When Things Work as Promised?

I recently received an offer from Keurig: five boxes of K-Cups for $55. They had a good variety, including decaf, so I was interested. Yes, I drink decaf. And before we go any further, this is not a debate about decaf coffee. I visit a lot of industrial clients around Houston. Some of the machine […]

What Costco’s Treasure Hunt Strategy Teaches Us About Website Navigation

I was watching a documentary about Costco, and one part of their retail strategy really caught my attention. Costco is known for creating a “treasure hunt” shopping experience. The idea is simple. When customers walk into the store, they may have a list, but Costco also wants them to discover products they were not expecting […]

Simplicity Sells: What a 99-Cent Corn Dog Can Teach Business Owners About Marketing

Sometimes the best marketing lessons show up in the most unexpected places. Recently, I saw a Facebook ad from Sonic promoting 99-cent corn dogs. The ad was simple: Joy only costs 99¢ 99¢ Corn Dogs All day Wednesday, 6/3 and 6/17 That was the message. No long explanation. No complicated offer. No attempt to say […]

Sometimes the Product Doesn’t Need to Change. The Message Does.

I saw these Pretzel Crisps Fireworks Berry Crème at the store and immediately thought, “Aren’t these pretty close to the frosted pretzels we see around Christmas?” And that’s the point. The product itself may not be that different. But the packaging changed.The colors changed.The theme changed. Most importantly, the reason to buy changed. In December, […]

OTC 2026: Visit These Upstream Marketing Clients on the Show Floor

OTC 2026 is here, and Houston is full of energy this week. If you’re walking the floor, here are a few companies we work with that are exhibiting—and why they’re worth a stop while you’re at OTC. Process Safety & Reliability Group (PSRG) – Booth #1409 Take a break and sit down for a few […]

When Efficiency Costs a Brand Its Flavor

There’s something about the smell of fresh bread that used to make Panera feel like home. It was a place to meet clients and referral partners, catch up over free coffee refills, and come up with some great marketing strategies. I snapped this photo back when the bakery cases were full, the bread was warm, […]

How to achieve your business goals for 2026

October is a perfect time to starting thinking about the upcoming years. If you’re a business owner, this is also an excellent time to reflect on your company’s performance over the past 3 quarters and set some goals for the year ahead. But how do you go about setting and achieving your business goals? Here […]

Choosing the right domain name

Choosing the Right Domain Name Matters More Than You Think. Driving the other week, I noticed a commercial van with the tagline “Service for the Future.” To the right of their tagline, they added .net. My first thought was: “That’s interesting. Their company name is pretty simple couldn’t they have just registered their business name […]

When a Logo Redesign Makes People “Lose Their Biscuits”

Recently, Cracker Barrel decided to update its logo to give the brand a more modern feel. The result? The internet lost its biscuits. Even the President chimed in. Social feeds were flooded with hot takes some people loved it, others hated it, and many wondered why the change was even necessary. But here’s the real […]

Your Website Should Fit In Your Pocket

When W.W. Bartlett asked us to redesign their website, we knew one thing for sure, it had to work as a sales tool on the go. Their team spends a lot of time in the field, meeting with clients in all kinds of settings: job sites, construction trailers, lunch meetings, trade shows, and networking events. […]

Marketing Insights for Business Owners

Helpful articles written to help business owners better understand the different aspects of marketing, including branding, online marketing, web design, SEO, local marketing, business development, sales, AI, and more.