by soco_admin | Dec 24, 2016 | News & Notes
If we’ve learned anything on this journey to change the way people work, connect and create, its that a community’s core is its people. Movements, organizations, startups, and other game changing efforts are all driven by passionate people on a quest create better lives for themselves and others around them. SOCO is no different. We’re so excited to share some of our community’s wins over the past year and we hope they inspire you to think bigger.
Moultrie Ball (RumbleLab wins Ignite Ideas Competition) – Congrats to member RumbleLabs on winning the EngenuitySC Ignite Ideas Competition 2016. Don’t spend all that money in one place.
Terrance Smith (Hacker Ferret Survives 1st Year) – Huge congrats to SOCO member Terrance Smith on launching and surviving his first year as a software business with Hacker Ferret. Check out his year in review here.
Sarra Cannon (Indie Author Reaches 500,000 books sold) – Being an “indie” anything is hard work. Being an indie author is about has hard as they come. So, when SOCO member and self-published author Sarra Cannon reached her 500,000th book sold, we couldn’t resist celebrating this HUUUUGE accomplishment. Sarra has penned some incredible work for teens with The Shadow Demons Saga, the Sacrifice Me Series and the Eternal Sorrows Trilogy. Keep rocking Sarra!
Colin Griffin (Krumware Sets Sights on World Domination w/ growth) – Krumware was born when member SOCO Colin Griffin exited out of the Mariner Group, a software company that was acquired while he was an employee. In less than 2 years, Krumware has made a name for itself as a leading progressive web applications company providing software solutions that can enable real time data and content distribution for both the enterprise and the individual. A team of 1 has become a team of five and we’re super excited to see what the next 5 years holds for Colin.
Christiaan Burner (Quicket Solutions lands in SC) – Quicket Solutions is an Illinois-based startup company providing data & analytics software for law enforcement. In 2016, they decided to enter the South Carolina market and join the SOCO Nation right here in Soda City. They picked Columbia because it’s centrally located, they love the market and think it’s “an excellent city to attract/retain our team”. #truth. Welcome to the Dirty South, Quicket Solutions!
Andrew Askins, Austin Price, Bill Brower – We’re especially proud of the Kritters, who started their company while still in college. Soon after all three graduated, they transitioned KRIT away from product development to focus on being a full time digital studio. In the last year, they brought on a 4th teammate, increased their revenue FIVE times over, and moved their company headquarters to Charleston. We’re anxiously waiting to see what this talented crew comes up with next.
While many of our members had major wins for their companies, we know that winning isn’t just about work. Some of our members shared wins that were both professional and personal.
Gaile Brown
The one thing I’m proud of this year is my commitment to being a Roadie for the AIDS/LifeCycle event, which consists of bringing awareness to HIV/AIDS, fundraising and spending a week of 12 to 15 hours a day supporting the cyclists from SF to LA along the California coast.
Secondly, after finally getting a contract at BCBSSC, and being thrown into the fire for my first project, which was previously owned by two developers over a total of 4 – 5 months, I completed it within five weeks. I continually ask my client if there are any problems, and each time he responds, ‘none so far’.
Sean Alan Boyd
Sold my small company that I started 5 years ago. Coordinated a large festival. Managed the first half of a large commercial renovation project. (2nd half is in 2017). Ran my first 5k. Ran my first 10k. Lost 14 lbs.
Amy Wise
It’s a long drawn out story, but my big win came after taking a chance with a small company that went bankrupt after 1 month of me being hired. I left the cozy comfort of a corporate company to work for this small company. I was worried, anxious, and scared being out of a job so soon after leaving a corporate cushion. Then a friend offered me a job with her growing internet marketing firm. I took the leap and joined her 1 man team to give her breathing room to think about growing her company. Now, I would never look back! I love working for FGM Internet Marketing, LLC and helping to use my creative voice that has been caged for 8+ years at my previous job.
Rachel Napolitano
My WIN for 2016 was taking the leap. I began the year still at a job that was not right for me, but it was a way to pass the time and it brought home a steady paycheck. After a trip to Yellowstone, I came back to work, sat in the conference room for our weekly meeting, and within 5 minutes knew I needed to get out of there. That afternoon I left that job, and by the end of the week was at SOCO, working on my first freelance gig among a community of movers and thinkers. People joke that 2016 was awful between the election, killer clowns, and beloved celebrity deaths, but I will always look back at it as the summer I found the drive to pursue a creative career! I’m not sure why this year was the year to make it happen, but all of a sudden all paths led to writing, and it was something I just had to do.
Joseph Lemmons
My biggest win was getting hired by an agency I’ve admired since landing in Columbia. Going from an independent back to agency life has been just as big a change as stepping out on my own, but I have been rewarded with a great work family, strong support, amazing clients with awesome projects, and more stability for my family. I don’t feel like I’ve compromised myself in any way, and I can see a growth path — so as the year winds down, I am still quite confident that I made the right move.
Zoltan Borbely
No client wants to deal with an irritable cranky vendor with bags under their eyes. Exhaustion can lead to missed details, a lower quality product and an unpleasant experience for customers. Being well rested is a critical component of being able to perform at the highest level.
We’re proud that this incredibly talented bunch of people call SOCO “home” and we look forward to cheering along with them on their journeys to the top.
Tell us – what were your big wins in 2016? Share with us on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #SOCOWins2016. We want to celebrate with you, too!
by soco_admin | Oct 4, 2016 | News & Notes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Join SOCO, The Iron Yard and Project Partners for Opening Day at the Historic Bakery at BullStreet, Oct. 7, 2016
SOCO and The Iron Yard Join Spirit Communications, Hughes Development Corporation, 1×1 Design and Buchanan Construction Services in Celebrating the Launch of S.C.’s First Urban Gigabit Community
Oct. 3, 2016 (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – Opening day festivities, including a noon ribbon cutting, will be held on Oct. 7, 2016 at the Bakery at BullStreet, the latest historic building to be renovated as part of the 20-year redevelopment of the 181-acre former S.C. State Hospital campus in downtown Columbia, South Carolina. The first phase of the planned BullStreet Technology Village, the Bakery at BullStreet boasts gigabit-speed broadband internet service — powered by Spirit Communications’ world-class fiber and technology platform — for users at the SOCO co-work and event space and The Iron Yard Columbia web development school. The Bakery at BullStreet building is located at 1721 Saunders St., just across the street from Spirit Communications Park.
“We are two years into a 20-year plan to transform BullStreet into an integral neighborhood in downtown Columbia, filled with vibrant, walkable streets and a mix of residential, retail, restaurant and recreational uses,” notes Robert Hughes, COO at Hughes Development Corporation, master developer of the BullStreet district. “It has been incredibly energizing to work with this team to activate one of the most unique spaces on the campus – and I have to say, the view of the baseball stadium from the back porch of the Bakery is beyond cool.”
The Bakery’s new tenants, the SOCO co-working and event space and The Iron Yard Columbia code school, are serving as the trailblazers for the planned BullStreet Technology Village.
“To truly impact the city and make it prosperous, we need a community of doers and makers, and that’s exactly what we’re building at The Iron Yard Columbia at BullStreet,” says Heather Dughaish, campus director at The Iron Yard, a tech education school with 21 campuses nationwide. “We’ve got students in the classroom as we speak, and we’re accepting applications for our next Front-End Engineering class, which starts January 2017.”
SOCO, a co-working and event space founded in the Vista in 2013, is launching its second location at the Bakery. “We love this city; we love its people and we want to be a part of writing a new story for this place we call home,” notes Greg Hilton, co-founder of SOCO. “We want to build the largest community and platform in the Southeast for creators – independent workers, freelancers and entrepreneurs. Our customers want more innovative spaces where they can access the community, connections and resources they need to do incredible work. That’s why we’re adding a second location at the Bakery at BullStreet.”
“Congratulations to SOCO and The Iron Yard for their success in growing Columbia’s innovation ecosystem,” said S.C. Department of Commerce Sec. Bobby Hitt. “The combination of a homegrown tech talent business and a creative community hub, plus gigabit access, will create the right conditions for technology enthusiasts and entrepreneurs to create and be ready for the jobs of the future in South Carolina. We launched the Office of Innovation to support these kinds of initiatives and to help start and build high-growth businesses.”
Bakery at BullStreet Opening Day, October 7
Hughes Development, SOCO and The Iron Yard Columbia at BullStreet, along with project partners Buchanan Construction Services, 1×1 Design and Spirit Communications, will celebrate the repurposing of the Bakery at BullStreet with an all-day, public gathering on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016.
The public is invited to tour the newly renovated Bakery building, see what SOCO and The Iron Yard have to offer, co-work for free for the day and more. The schedule of opening day includes the following:
- “Lighting Up the Gigabit” Ribbon Cutting (12 p.m.) – Join project partners and community leaders at noon for a short ceremony to celebrate the second life of this historic building and the launch of the region’s most powerful fiber connection.
- Free Co-work Day (all day, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) – Join SOCO and members of the creative community for a free day of co-working with up to 10 gigabit internet speeds and learn more about becoming a SOCO co-work member.
- The Iron Yard Open House (all day, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.) – Drop in to talk to The Iron Yard code school staff about careers in web development and other programs and opportunities from The Iron Yard.
- Bakery at BullStreet Launch Party ( 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m) – Enjoy beer, food trucks, lawn games and camaraderie at the free launch party at the Bakery at BullStreet, located at 1721 Saunders St., Columbia, SC 29201. RSVP online
Located a few blocks away from Spirit Communications Park on the historic grounds of the BullStreet Development, the Bakery at BullStreet contains 4,200 total square feet, including 2,000 square feet of collaborative space and 1,200 square feet of educational space with two classrooms, a community space and a space for private meetings and events. With beautifully preserved architectural features, 20-foot high ceilings, exposed ducts and lots of natural light, the Bakery at BullStreet space is conducive to creative thinking.
The Bakery at BullStreet will welcome and support the Midlands’ tech, creative and entrepreneurial communities. The venue will host several events in the upcoming months, including meetups for Columbia Women in Tech, Columbia Enterprise Developer’s Guild and Front-End Engineering; The Iron Yard Crash Courses; and Open Houses and free “Co-work Fridays” at SOCO on the first Friday of each month.
“Spirit Communications, SOCO and the Iron Yard are already off to a great start, as we are collaborating on a number of projects in the Vista,” notes Greg Guerra, EVP of Business Development and Strategy at Spirit Communications. “Given the success of our product launch at Spirit Communications Park, the next phase of gigabit deployment at SOCO is going to be a real technology showcase for Columbia.”
Renovating the Historic Bakery
A key location for immersive patient occupational therapy at the S.C. State Hospital from 1900 until the 1950s, the original bakery was constructed next to the laundry building, adjacent to the domed Babcock building. Individuals who were able voluntarily worked at the bakery, preparing baked goods for those on campus in conjunction with the central kitchen.
“Interior renovations to the Bakery presented challenges with old brick, stained wood and peeling paint,” says Davis Buchanan, founder of Buchanan Construction Services, a Columbia-based general contracting, design/build and consulting firm for commercial construction projects in S.C., Ga. and N.C. “The walls and floors allow the rich patina of age and the former uses of the building to become part of the new story.”
Buchanan continues, “All new plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems were added for the expanded offices. Historic elements of the old building (like the fuse box) were left exposed, and industrial enamel sinks were moved from other old buildings on the campus to create the eclectic feeling of the workspace. The old wood ceilings and beams were left intact where possible, and the Bakery retains its historic exterior with its sky light retrofitted with new glass and new windows throughout.”
1×1 Design, an architectural firm in Columbia, provided architecture, interior design and planning services during the renovation of the Bakery at BullStreet. “1×1 Design was thrilled to have the chance to work with transforming the ‘old’ bakery building into a space for some of the ‘newest’ companies and technology happening in our city,” says Asheley Scott, President of 1×1 Design. “It’s turned out to be an amazing space in which to work.”
“Everyone who has been involved in revitalizing the Bakery at BullStreet is passionate about creating well-planned spaces that bring the community together,” notes Robert Hughes, whose family-owned firm is known for aiding in the revival of Greenville’s downtown district, a process that spanned decades and was made possible only through the long-term collaboration of local leaders, the business community, area stakeholders and the public. Hughes adds, “We’re honored and humbled to be a part of the process of creating an entirely new district for shopping, dining, recreation and commerce in downtown Columbia, a city that is already growing so beautifully.”
About BullStreet
Located within blocks of Columbia, S.C.’s vibrant downtown neighborhoods, BullStreet is a 181-acre, mixed-use redevelopment of the former South Carolina State Hospital campus, set for completion on a 20-year timeline with an anticipated $1.2 billion annual economic impact. Master developer Hughes Development Corporation of Greenville, S.C., is using a new urbanist, form-based code, working closely with other developers who possess deep domain expertise to create a city-within-a-city, filled with spaces that maintain the integrity of the historic district; mix commercial and residential uses; create a walkable and bicycle-friendly place; provide parks and open space; maximize economic impact and increase the City’s tax base; and connect to the Midlands community. S.C.’s first urban gigabit community, BullStreet is home to Spirit Communications Park (awarded 2016 Ballpark of the Year by BallPark Digest), the First Base Building office/retail complex, the Parker Annex office building and the new Bakery at BullStreet building in the growing BullStreet Technology Village. BullStreet contains 125,000+ square feet of commercial/office and retail space and is zoned for up to 3.3 million square feet of commercial use and 3,553 residential units. For more information, visit http://bullstreetsc.com.
Press Contact: Tracie Broom, Flock and Rally, 415.235.5718,
tracie@flockandrally.com
Chloe Rodgers, Flock and Rally, 843.230.1611,
chloe@flockandrally.com
by soco_admin | Aug 8, 2016 | News & Notes
This article originally appeared in Midlands Anchor on July 2016
Written by Greg Hilton and Heather Dughaish
Change is in the air. You can’t put your finger on it, but it’s palpable. Yes, our city is “under construction” with more than $1 billion in development occurring in our downtown alone. But, a city isn’t defined by its buildings. It’s defined by its people, culture and aspirations. For the first time, there’s a glimmer of hope that we’re becoming the place that we always talk about becoming: an exciting city, revitalized, re-inspired, a city looking forward.
Yet, struggles remain. Our entrepreneurial community struggles to grow. Our city’s aspiring innovators and change makers hit roadblocks at many turns and new ideas struggle to gain the traction and support they need. We see our talented friends leaving, drawn to “other places” pulsing with life, thriving creative and tech scenes, and the chance to fulfill one’s purpose. We find ourselves asking the question “why?” Why is it that our city struggles to retain (much less attract) these “creators”?
There are also signs of an emergence of this creative culture in our city. Creative ‘treps like Kristian Niemi and Sarah Simmons elevating our food scene; pioneers like River Rat, Conquest and others defining our craft beer scene. Organizations like One Columbia, The Nickelodeon and Scenario Collective are helping to redefine our arts scene. Social activists and citizen investors mobilizing around What’s Next Midlands.
We see aspiring entrepreneurs connecting, sharing and growing through 1 Million Cups Columbia. We see growing numbers of creators reinventing themselves every day at SOCO, Columbia’s first platform and community for creators, and people from all walks of life choosing to change their trajectories by learning how to code at The Iron Yard.
We know you are out there. In labs at USC, garages, coffee shops dotting our city, in cubicles and classrooms. You’re makers, writers, designers, tinkers, students, small business owners, independent workers, educators…people with dreams of doing something big and creating things the world needs.
So, what to do? Get involved. Help make change. Join a group or organization of your interest, start supporting organizations and events in our community that support this vision. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Then, start something. Being a creator is not limited to one ethnicity, gender or income level.
So, for all you aspiring entrepreneurs and creators out there. It’s time to write a new narrative for our city. Where big ideas, grit and determination define us and unite us. Where people don’t find jobs, they create them. Where our city is known as a “place of creators” not just a “place of consumers”. But, the time is now…right now…to start. There is much at stake. So, the question for all of you is what will you do to create a city that inspires you to wake up every day and love where you live?
by soco_admin | Apr 12, 2016 | News & Notes
Creative entrepreneurs are interesting. I tend to separate most of us into two groups.
The Artist vs. The Scientist
So, let me me explain.
The Artist
The artist entrepreneur approaches the business world like they approach their work. They are looking for spontaneity, spark, creation. It sometimes comes easy, but most of the time is borne out of struggle. The attraction for the artist is that chance of hitting on something brilliant, which also leaves the chance of missing the mark. Their work sometimes shines with an accidental energy that is hard to duplicate and that’s ok. The chance of it being great is worth the chance that it will be a disaster. In their mind, there is no “right” way to create, but the creation leads the way.
The Scientist
The Scientist entrepreneur faces a simple dilemma when attempting to create. They want to figure it out. They want to make order of seeming chaos. If they can crack the code of creativity, then they can duplicate it over and over. It’s a way of approaching creative work borne out of systems and predictability. Not in a boring way, but a result that’s predictably good once they crack the code. They figure out how creation is done, and engineer it so it happens again and again.
I’m not necessarily saying either of these approaches is right or wrong, but I’ve recognized these traits over and over in the creatives that I know. Both ways can produce great results. It is important to know who you’re working with to know how they work best. And frankly, most of us have elements of both within us but lean heavily to one side or another when they are in the process of creating their work.
Which one are you?
Artist or Scientist?
Photo by Lucas Brown – Kickstand Studio
by soco_admin | Apr 12, 2016 | News & Notes
When I have a conversation with photographers about SEO, I usually find that their main goal is to get on the first page of Google.
Then I ask, “What would someone be searching for in order to find your site on the first page?”
Usually that gets me a “hmm… good question” kind of response, so I’ll ask them how they are checking to see where they rank in Google.
The most common answer is something like: “I just search Google for {insert my city} wedding photographers.”
If that answer describes how you’re checking your Google ranking, this post is for you!
First, let’s talk for a second about why this isn’t the best way to check your ranking. Google results are often different for each searcher. This is because Google tries to personalize results.
Some of the personalization factors include:
- Your search history
- Whether or not you’ve visited a site before
- Social connections
- Your physical location
- Your device type
- Emails you’ve received in Gmail
So even if you don’t include a city in your search for a wedding photographer, Google is probably going to show you results for photographers near you.
But if someone else typed that same query (“wedding photographers”) in a different city or state, they would see drastically different results. This also happens on a micro level. Somebody on one side of town will likely see different results than someone search on the other side of town. Especially on the map.
The browsing and connection personalization is pretty easy to avoid.
All you need to do is use an Incognito or Private window. These windows don’t save history or cookies, so your own preferences won’t influence your results.
However, an incognito session can still be influenced by your location (based on IP address) and your device (results will likely be different on mobile and desktop). Because of this, your results may not be consistent if you search for the same keywords on multiple devices or in different locations, even if you are using a private browsing session.
IF you are going to be using this method for checking your ranking, at least make sure you are consistent with your location and device when checking. But incognito searching still isn’t my favorite method for checking your rankings in the search engines.
Let’s look at 2 other free options that will let you check and track your rankings over time!
1 – Serpfox
Serpfox is a tool that allows you to track your position in the SERPs over time. The free plan will let you track up to 10 keywords!
Another great feature is that you can emulate location and device biases.
You can also set notifications for keywords based on their change in position. For example, maybe you want to get an email if one of your keywords gets to page 1. Easy Peasy.
You can also upgrade to a paid account to track even more keywords (and the pricing starts at $10/mo, which is very reasonable compared to other pro tools).
2 – Serps.com Rank Checker
The SERPs rank checker does essentially the same thing as Serpfox, but is intended for one time searches instead of tracking over time. If you want to stay free and check more than 10 keywords, you could use this tool to get the same kind of results! The only catch is that it is a little slow, each search takes around 60 seconds.
Just put in your keyword and domain, choose whether your engine, select local/device preferences, and check your rankings!
You can see that this tool gives me the same result as Serpfox.
Using these two free tools, you’ll at least have a way to measure your rankings consistently.
But even knowing your anonymous ranking isn’t a great way to track your SEO progress.
Think about this. Your potential client is probably not searching incognito. They probably WILL see personalized results. Chances are, you’ll show up all over the page for people using the exact same phrase.
Not to mention, being on the first page for a specific keyword is probably more of a vanity metric than a key health indicator. By the way, do you even know if the keyword you are tracking is the most used head keyword used by your clients?
A site that is properly optimized will likely be bringing in organic traffic for hundreds of keywords.
So how should you be measuring your progress when it comes to SEO? How will you know if your efforts are paying off?
I’m glad you asked.
There are quite a few things you can track, but my #1 recommendation is getting familiar with Google Search Console. In particular, I want you to become an expert at reading the Search Analytics page.
This will show you all of the queries that displayed your site in the SERPS (impressions), the total number of clicks on those results, the CTR (impressions divided by clicks), and your average position across all queries. You’ll also be able to see all of that data for specific keywords, along with estimated monthly volume for each keyword.
Note: Usually, Google shows 10 results per page. So if you are in position 35, you are the 5th result on the 4th page.
In the screenshot above, you can see data for the same keyword I was tracking with the free tools earlier.
Google tells me that the average position over the past 28 days for “SEO for photographers” is 36.9. Not to much different than the 31 I was seeing in Serpfox, but keep in mind that this is data for the past 28 days. If I narrow it to the past 7 days, the average changes to 31.3. Nice! Good confirmation that the other tools are giving me an accurate picture of my ranking for that keyword.
This report is also a great place to find keywords that you didn’t even know people were using to find your site. Sometimes you’ll find keywords that have a high monthly volume and you are already ranking in the first few pages. That would be a great time to focus on optimizing for that keyword and trying to capture even more of that search volume!
You may also find that you are on page 1 or 2 for a keyword, but getting almost no clicks, despite having plenty of impressions. This is a good time to evaluate your snippet and think about why people aren’t clicking your result.
Finally, you can compare date ranges on the same chart. This is a great way to track whether your site is improving over time!
In this chart, the solid lines are the previous 28 days, and the dotted lines are the 28 days before that. You can see that I’ve increased impressions by almost 400% (that means my site is showing up in search results 4x more than before), but my CTR (click through rate) has gone down.
Now that you know a little about how to read your search analytics, you can start to set better goals for your Google rankings!
Here are some goals you can set.
- I want to increase the number of clicks to my site from Google search traffic compared to last month.
- I want to show up more in Google SERPs.
- I want to increase the CTR of my results.
- I want to discover and optimize for one new high volume keyword each month.
With these goals, you’ll have a much better idea about how your SEO efforts are paying off! Remember to check your progress at least once a month and refine your plan and goals!
