According to GroupM Search and comScore, nearly half of all consumers use search engines and social media to make their purchase decisions, which means if your website isn’t high in search engine results, and if you don’t have a voice in social media, you practically don’t exist for half of your audience. But it’s more than just having a presence online; you have to stand out. Make a real impact online and you could become the leader in your industry. Think digital stomp. It’s the digital age and the rules have changed. Search and social media are What’s Next, and if you don’t step on it, you will get stepped on.

What happens when your marketing concept needs a compelling visual other then stock photography or illustration or a great type treatment? What if the concept needs something that lives in the suspended realm of dreamland, but CGI fantasy isn't quite the real enough? The three photographers below are masters of the captured image. Each artist has an individual style that brings a magical life to their work and that demands attention. But, they can also shoot tabletops and headshots that you'd love just!

Chris Chlor :: http://www.clorimages.com

Sean McGinty :: http://www.seanmcginty.com

Stephen Austin Welch :: http://www.saw-art.com

Well, with this team of industrious Balcomites, nourishment gets our attention. Everytime. And it doesn't matter if it's in the form of breakfast tacos (LOVE the brown sauce from Taco Cabana on EVERYTHING), lunch, cookies, ice cream, or adult nectar (mmm... sweet, sweet beer). Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone of our vendor/partners for participating in the parade of food, and especially to our delegent DOP Lynne Swihart for faciltating days and days of full bellies and carb-induced afternoon comas. The last two weeks of gluttony have been wonderful, but alas, with the end of the two-week food challenge (issued by interactive Bs) drawing near, this weekend is the time to give serious consideration into getting the newly arrived TreadClimber assembled. Or at least put those old fat pants back into rotation.

• Blakely Warner, Olmsted Kirk Paper
• Don Ray, Ussery Printing
• John Hampton, Xpdex Paper
• Tom Hussey Photography
• Cody Curry & Christie Hayes, Curry Printing
• Mark Croysdale, Nieman Printing
• Lee Reynolds Cockrell, Clampitt Paper
• Toni Shelton, Cockrell Printing
• Sean McGinty Photography
• Craig Turns, Motheral Printing
• Tim Trixler, Buchanan Printing
• Bruce Richardson and Bill Long, Signs Etc.
• Blakely Warner (again!), Olmsted Kirk Paper
• Simon Esparza, Cenveo Printing — Long distance assist, all the way from San Antonio!
• Susie Richardson & Robin Perez, Branch Smith Printing
• Buddy Iles, Southwest Bank — Yes, even a client asked to join the fun!

Photo credit: sillydog