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 Cogsdill Tool launches redesigned website
 Cogsdill Tool Products Inc. has launched a new Semaphore-redesigned website. Located in Lugoff, S.C., Cogsdill is a manufacturer of precision tools for the metalworking industry.
Cogsdill, founded in 1914, is Semaphore’s longest-standing client, having been with the agency since the early 1980s. During that time, Semaphore has established Cogsdill’s brand by producing glossy color catalogs featuring the company’s various precision metalworking tools as well as ads in national magazines.
Cogsdill provided an outline as well as objectives for the new website. One of the goals was to make the site more informative and interactive. For instance, on the ‘Products’ pages the viewer may identify products and learn key facts about each by simply scrolling over products in a group photo.
Another goal was to provide more information in each of the four foreign languages in which Cogsdill produces catalogs: German, French, Spanish, and Chinese. The new site features translated pages in each of these languages for the ‘About us’ and product line pages.
The homepage features a metallic silver background, as well as a brief overview and flash animation of each of the company’s five product lines.
“Cogsdill recognizes the importance of having an engaging, interactive website for both its customers and the general public,” said Cynthia Gilliam, Semaphore’s president. “We are excited to continue building the Cogsdill brand by integrating the website as a vital part of the marketing program.”
Visit the site at cogsdill.com.
Agency completes Touchstone Energy calendar
Semaphore has completed a 2009 Touchstone Energy calendar for the  agency’s electric cooperative clients. The theme of the calendar is “Living Green.” Each month features a large bucolic image. Inset is an energy-saving or environmental-conservation tip, with a smaller photo illustrating the tip. Semaphore worked closely with the co-ops to create the theme, design, and copy for the calendar. The calendars are customized with each co-op’s logo and contact information.
This is the third co-op calendar Semaphore has produced. The project began in 2007 with just three electric cooperatives participating. It has grown to include 18 co-ops (10 from South Carolina and eight from Georgia), with 55,000 calendars ordered for 2009. Several of the co-ops distribute the calendars to their members at annual meetings.
Non(e)such celebrates 30 years in business
 In September, Semaphore helped Columbia’s non(e)such celebrate 30 years in business. The agency designed a direct mail postcard that was mailed to the business’s loyal customers. The card allowed the customer to save 30 percent off merchandise in honor of the anniversary. Over three decades, non(e)such has been run by three generations of women from the same family. The Devine Street store offers fine antiques, gifts, collectibles and jewelry.
If you don’t know what SEO stands for…
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 It sounds complicated, but Search Engine Optimization is simply a Web marketing process that aims to improve your Web site ranking in search engine (such as Google or Yahoo!) keyword search results. Analyzing how search engines work and what people search for, SEO primarily involves editing site content and HTML coding.
Why do you need it? Because Web searchers scan a search results page from top to bottom and left to right, placement at or near the top of the rankings helps increase your site visitors, which in turn may result in more lead generation and brand awareness.
SEO can improve an existing site. But if you’re planning a site redesign, or about to launch a new site, it’s also a great time to start SEO so the site is designed to be search engine-friendly from the ground up.
From site review and compliance analysis, to addressing technical issues that may keep search engines from indexing your site, to setting up analytics programs to measure site traffic and performance, there are many things a good SEO plan can do. But not all are necessary or suitable for your Web site. Be sure to set specific Web marketing goals and ask your SEO specialist to tailor the SEO plan to meet those goals.
For more information about SEO, contact Semaphore. | 
