Welcome To The Personal Blog Of Christopher L. Bower

Hi, I’m Christopher Bower. I created this exciting Internet project along with a very talented team of professionals from the Metro Detroit area and across the United States. Included in this Blog are my personal experiences in professional  marketing, project management and people management along with carefully integrated photography and other creative elements… I hope you enjoy. In addition, this an extension of my current online and offline Michigan-based business known as Detroit Internet Marketing, LLC located in the city of Troy.

14
Jun
2017
0

Changing Face of Detroit: A Great City Reborn with a New Pulse

In days past, many people would agree that Detroit could be considered synonymous with dilapidation and despair. However, times have certainly changed.

As a city most known as being a hub for the automotive and manufacturing industries, today’s Detroit could be likened to the comeback kid of American cities.

Currently, Detroit is a mecca of modern culinary excellence, an artist’s empire and a desired destination — both for fun and permanency — for people young and old who used to flock to the suburbs.

Arguably likened to such gritty cities as Houston or New Orleans, Detroit is making a new name for itself in its own right.

The fall (and rise) of America’s grittiest city

As the most populated city in Michigan, Detroit is the largest city on the border of the U.S and Canada. In recent decades, the city has endured economic decline and a suffering auto industry due to global competition. But back well into the 1950s is when Detroit’s population fell, when folks dispersed to neighboring cities.

Add to that, crime rates are among the highest in the nation and many of the city’s oldest and most architecturally awesome buildings have experienced abandonment and severe decay. Combined with the city’s recent bankruptcy and riddled with poverty and blight, there was a time when it would be hard to fathom Detroit ever rising from the ashes.

However, with urban living on trend and the newly revived Midtown and New Center areas of the city, Detroit has and continues to attract young professionals and former residents back into its diverse milieu. Longstanding businesses abound in Detroit, while others are quickly relocating to the city.

Quicken Loans is one such business. Having moved its headquarters from Livonia to downtown Detroit six years ago, Quicken Loans Founder, Dan Gilbert, continues to be a catalyst for revamping the city, aiming to attract hundreds more professionals and residents with several high-dollar projects and bids in the works.

And though the city is very walkable, the newly opened Q-Line is, perhaps, the one of the most exciting developments right now, as Detroit’s newest streetcar that runs along Woodward Avenue, further energizing Detroit’s new pulse.

A great city reborn

With the influx of trendy happenings all over the city right now, Detroit has even garnered national attention for what it’s bringing to the table (in some cases, literally bringing to the table).

Most recently, Detroit was named a top travel destination worldwide by the New York Times. Additionally, Detroit earned recognition as a top “unexpected” food destination from National Geographic (the publication named just one city for each continent, making the honor even more distinguished).

In fact, two Michelin-starred chefs chose to trade their Chicago cooking roots for the appeal of the alive-and-well Detroit culinary scene. Among the restaurants generating buzz around the city are those who specialize in locally sourced menu items, hip craft cocktails and fine wine. Others, still, feature more casual flare like fried chicken, tacos and even food truck fare.

Food aside, Detroit, some would say, is a cultural magnet.

The arts and entertainment offerings in Detroit are a force to be reckoned with. The iconic Fisher Theatre and Fox Theater, as well as the Detroit Opera House, bring in some of the country and world’s top musical, Broadway and artistic acts, while a myriad of smaller theaters make way for up-and-coming talent.

Pedal trolleys, as well as bus, Segway, walking and biking tours further the sense of community while the revived Campus Martius Park offers a plethora of activity, from a “beach” bar to modern fountains, musical stages, history, dining and more.

Combine this with the longstanding DIA, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the various music festivals and the bustling Wayne State University campus, Detroit could very well be America’s best-kept secret that is now being told.

Suffice to say, the city is in an upswing in terms of what it has to offer for food, culture, entertainment and livability. And as a city once known for not much else other than the auto industry it housed has certainly revved up its status when it comes to being an “it” place to visit and live.

And the only way to go from here is up.

 

 

 

5
May
2017
0

Why Blogging is Essential For Marketing Strategy

As a business owner, there’s certainly no shortage of tasks that need to be completed on a daily basis. From handling sales to hiring and training staff and even accounting and payroll, no doubt you wear a lot of hats.

Whether you have recently launched your business or have been doing business for some time, hopefully you have a successful website up and running in order to generate leads. But…it doesn’t end there.

Starting and maintaining a company blog is an essential part of any business model, as it can further position you as a trusted expert in your field and also help folks find you. If you aren’t yet blogging or if you’re looking to revamp your current blog, read on for some best practices.

Why your company should blog

Simply put, a business blog is a frequently updated online site of articles that relate to your business and industry for the public to read. Many companies link their blog right to their website so that it can be easily found.

While it’s true that many folks won’t read your blog, there’s a good chance that those who do may become your customer one day, as all of your posts should link back to your website or offer a call to action of some sort.

Further, a blog allows for a conversation between you and readers/customers/prospects. Just be sure to stay on top of the comments/question that come in. Not to mention, blogging is a form of free PR, of sorts. Many times, business owners who blog are interviewed by journalists as subject matter experts in their industry. And free press coverage never hurt anyone!

Another benefit of blogging is that your content can be multi-functional if you really put it to work for you. In addition to posting to your blog, you can share your posts on your company’s social media channels as well as with other industry sites or publications to gain further exposure. Additionally, as you gain a variety of posts, you can even publish them in an e-book to give away to prospects and customers.

Once you start consistently blogging, you will begin to gain readers’ trust and they will come to rely on you as a valuable resource.

How to get quality blog posts

You may be thinking, “I am so busy as it is — I have no extra time to write blog posts.” That is understandable and you definitely aren’t alone. The good news is, there are other ways to generate quality blog content without writing it all yourself.

If you employ staff members, you may want to ask them to contribute on a regular basis. The task of writing a post is less burdensome if each person is only required to do so every month or so, depending on how often you post. (The key is to remain consistent with your posting schedule, whether it’s weekly, biweekly or even monthly.)

Oftentimes, your team has valuable thoughts and expertise that would be key to share in a blog post. And, more often than not, staffers are happy to be selected for this task. It is important, though, to ensure that writers meet any rough draft deadlines and that you or someone on staff proofreads and gives final approval to each post. After all, you have to be comfortable with the content that is representing your company.

If your staff is fairly small or if you wish to take another route, you may want to hire a freelance blog writer. If you already have a website/digital marketing company working for you, many times they may have a writer on staff or even know of someone of whom to recommend. The benefit of this strategy is that most professional writers know the value of incorporating search engine optimization in their blog posts for you, so that your company receives further exposure online.

Though the thought of starting a blog can be overwhelming at first, once you have a strategic plan in place it really can be a smooth and fun tactic that enhances your business prospects.