The Story of a Local Legend
OUTdrive Episode 99 with John Kehde Small business owners have an inherent responsibility to be active and invested in their community. That’s especially true for OUTdrive guest John Kehde, who took his passion and civic duty to the highest commitment, serving and eventually leading the local government for the city of Sedalia. In this episode,…
Read MoreLesson 15 – Never Stop Learning
The marketing and advertising industry has been driven by the changes in technology which have made what we do harder and easier, but definitely more effective and more measurable. We’ve had to learn it from scratch, which we did, and that hasn’t stopped. It’s the same in every industry, including senior living. One of our…
Read MoreCelebrating the History of Family Farming
OUTdrive Episode 98 with Bonita & Taylor Riley Now more than ever, people are invested in where their food comes from. Those who frequent local farmers’ markets have the luxury of knowing exactly where their food is grown and how it’s raised, and they have a chance to connect with the people who produce it.…
Read MoreLesson 14 – Things Change
As we approached the turn of the century and the year 2000, there were some people who believed that all the computer systems in the world that were in use at that time would crash when their internal clocks hit 1/1/2000. Apparently, they had not been programmed to function after that date. Frankly, people were…
Read MoreConsistent and Quality Branding
OUTdrive Episode 97 with Brooklyn & Larry White There is no shortage of beef producers in Central Missouri, but Brook and Larry White of White Angus Ranch are doing things a little different: raising grass-finished beef. Unlike “grass-fed” beef, “grass-finished” means corn and grain are never part of the animal’s diet, resulting in a leaner…
Read MoreLeveraging Lightweight Videos in Your Marketing
Video is one of the most effective ways to reach audiences and share your content. It is visual, personal and captures the attention of viewers. Digital and social media platforms continue to prioritize video, but it can be difficult to produce videos due to the time and investment needed to create one. So how can…
Read MoreLesson 13 – Evolve and Innovate
One of the exciting things we’ve enjoyed at Callis over the past 35 years has been experiencing the digital revolution of media firsthand. When we started, everything we did was by hand. No computers. No internet. No technology. Today, everything we do is digital and technology is driving marketing more and more every day. We…
Read MoreSupporting Local Farmers’ Markets
OUTdrive Episode 96 with Bev Rollings, Brenda Raetz, and Matt and Kim Tennill Did you know that the produce in grocery stores travels an average of 1,500 miles before it ends up on your plate? Furthermore, the USDA estimates that on average, a farmer only earns 17.4 cents for every dollar spent on a food…
Read MoreProviding Quality Health Care
OUTdrive Episode 95 with Dr. Stuart Braverman Access to quality health care is at the core of a healthy community. Rural area hospitals play a vital role in attracting new families and businesses to small and mid-size cities. Sedalia, Missouri is home to a number of care facilities, including the community-owned Bothwell Regional Health Center.…
Read MoreLesson 12 – Diversification Can Be Good
In 1998, we were rolling along and running very smoothly. We had an excellent, well-seasoned team and were well-positioned for growth. One day, one of our clients came to us with the idea to partner with them on a student planner. This wasn’t one of our traditional partnerships where we form a strategic alliance with…
Read MoreDriving Tourism to Trail Towns
OUTdrive Episode 94 with Kim Henderson The Katy Trail State Park is the longest developed rail-trail in the country, spanning 240 miles between Clinton and Machens with 26 trailheads and four fully restored railroad depots along the way. Whether you are a bicyclist, walker, equestrian, nature lover or history buff, the trail offers opportunities for…
Read MoreLesson 11 – Pray About It
In the late ’90s, one of our clients asked if we could design and manufacture a product that they could sell to their customers to commemorate their 50th anniversary. I really think they could have built it themselves but staying true to their business and products, they wanted someone else to do it. What an…
Read MoreThe Path Less Traveled
OUTdrive Episode 93 with Rob Hughes Some of us chose our own paths in life. For others, the path is chosen for us. And if you’re Rob Hughes, the senior minister at Broadway Church in Sedalia, Missouri, the path will call you to ministry after years of working in a completely unrelated career field. In…
Read MoreLESSON 10 – IF YOU WANT SOMETHING BAD ENOUGH…
For many of our agency staffers who grew up in Sedalia, they’ve been going to the Missouri State Fair since they were kids. Some showed livestock there. Some worked there and others just enjoyed all the many things you can do there. Simply put, we love the fair! Once our agency proved that it knew…
Read MoreThe Importance of Planning When Developing a Website
An often overlooked but critical part of the website development process is planning. Before creating a design or writing any code, there should be an in-depth planning process to ensure that the website meets all user needs. Benefits of including planning early in the website development process: Identify all business needs Identify all user needs…
Read MorePursuing Opportunities
OUTdrive Episode 92 with Cesar Marin Community is defined as “a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.” A strong sense of community is part of what makes rural America a great place to live, work and raise a family. In this episode of OUTdrive, our guest…
Read MoreLesson 9 – Marketing Works
This may go without saying, but we know that marketing works. Over the years, when the right and appropriate approach and budget were put into place, we saw the results first hand, and our clients did too. We also saw them in our own marketing efforts. Back in 1993, we were actively doing direct mail…
Read MorePropane: Resilient & Clean Energy
OUTdrive Episode 91 with Joe Calhoun Alternative energy solutions are a major point of discussion these days. One solution that is often overlooked is propane. Propane is being used across all industries to meet the need for a resilient, cleaner, greener energy solution, and the need for remote power where it isn’t readily available. In…
Read MoreLesson 8 – Learn the Business
One of our goals with every client relationship is to learn their business. Obviously, we need to understand the specifics about their products and services to be able to promote them, but it goes well beyond that. We always want to know what their long-term objectives are so we can help them achieve them. Do…
Read MoreBuying, Building, & Developing Real Estate
OUTdrive Episode 90 with Russell Childers Entrepreneurship has evolved over the years, but one thing is for certain, the American Dream is still alive and well for those who are willing to work for it. In this episode of OUTdrive, I sit down with business owner Russell Childers to learn more about what it takes…
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