The American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA), has selected Circumerro Media to design and implement a new web presence. AFFTA is the primary fly fishing trade organization with the mission of promoting the sustained growth of its industry.

AFFTA turned to Circumerro Media with a specific list of goals, including clear communication of the AFFTA mission, online membership conversion and the implementation of a content management system for AFFTA staff.

“There is a lot of new energy in the fly fishing industry and Circumerro’s efforts on this new site will be instrumental to our membership growth initiatives,” stated Steve Sullivan/AFFTA Board Member and Membership Committee Chair. “We are very excited to be able to launch this new site which we feel will be an outstanding resource for understanding all the good works of AFFTA including fly fishing education, member benefits, national lobbying efforts, and industry news”.

The new Web site is slated to launch in December. For more information on AFFTA, visit www.affta.com.

By Mike Hixenbaugh
Rocky Mount Telegram

Sunday, October 19, 2008

TARBORO — Leaders in one of North Carolina’s more historic towns hope to utilize new-aged marketing techniques to reverse a more than 30-year trend of stagnant population growth.

Tarboro’s new Web site featuring four promotional videos and other multimedia went live this week, drawing hundreds of online visitors within hours.

“Web sites and the Internet in general appears to be the most effective avenue as far as attracting people and getting your name out,” Town Manager Sam Noble said. “Tarboro and Edgecombe County have lost people — more than for 10 years — for more like 30 years. I really think this site will help us to attract new residents as well as commercial and industrial growth.”

The Web site was designed by Circumerro Creative Media Agency of Jackson Hole, Wyo., for $44,000 and replaces Tarboro’s original site, which was designed more than five years ago.

Four promotional videos were filmed and posted on the site, anchoring an overlying message promoting Tarboro’s history, business atmosphere, tourist attractions and comfortable lifestyle.

“Tarboro is an inclusive community of individuals who view small town living as a refreshing tonic from congested city life,” according to the Web site’s welcome message.

The site was scheduled to launch last month but was delayed after Councilman Melvin Muhammad voiced concerns over a lack of diversity in the videos. After reviewing the newly edited video clips this week, the Town Council unanimously approved the new site.

“I think it looks pretty good,” Noble said, noting that the videos remind him why he loves the community. “It certainly should be an asset to town. But it will be an ongoing project. We’ll be adding content to the site regularly.”

The Web site was constructed for maximum search connectivity, Circumerro Creative Media Agency owner Latham Jenkins said. If someone does a search on canoeing in North Carolina, for example, Tarboro’s new site should pop up.

The promotional videos have already drawn response from a number of YouTube viewers.

“I visited Tarboro for a couple of weeks back in February and fell in love with your great town,” one commenter wrote about the videos. “If I was ever gonna emigrate from the UK, Tarboro would be my ideal destination.”

W. TERRY SMITH
EDITOR

The Daily Southerner / October 16, 2008 11:10 am

The Town of Tarboro’s new community Web site (http://www.tarboro-nc.com) was launched Wednesday afternoon. It is focused on telling its story to prospective visitors and newcomers. “The new site is geared towards attracting people to our great town,” Town Manager Sam Noble said. “Our intent was to assure that anyone interested in visiting or relocating knew what we had to offer.” The new site features four community videos of local residents telling Tarboro’s story through their experiences growing up and living in the community.

“We desired to have locals talking authentically about what Tarboro means to them,” said Latham Jenkins, president of Circumerro Media, the Web site’s publisher. “Authenticity is always an enduring way to help others understand Tarboro’s value proposition and we achieved this through the video content.” YouTube users have already been commenting on the video content:”I am moving from Upstate NY to Tarboro in a few weeks, and I appreciate this video very much” and “I visited Tarboro for a couple of weeks back in February and fell in love with your great town. If I was ever gonna emigrate from the UK, Tarboro would be my ideal destination.”

Beyond the videos, the new Web site was developed in what Jenkins noted was a search engine friendly architecture to assure an expanded presence in the search engines. The former Web site was developed about five years ago, according to Town Planner Troy Lewis. Circumerro Media is a Web design, publishing and branding company that creates engaging experiences “based on the simple principle that your company has a story – a story we’ll help you tell.” It was founded by Jenkins in 1995 and is based in Jackson Hole, Wyo.

It was a labor of love for Jenkins, a Tarboro native and the 38-year-old son of Town Councilman John and Sandy Jenkins. “From the beginning it’s been, hopefully, a reflection of my experiences growing up in Tarboro and captures the voice of the community today,” Jenkins said.

He won the contract of $44,000 in April and came in under that at $43,280, $22,400 of which is covered by a grant from ElectriCities. Jenkins contributed $5,000 worth of video “to ensure the success needed.” When he first presented a version for review by Town Council on Aug. 11, it was requested the site show a more diverse population. When council viewed a preview of the site and two of the minivideos on Monday night, it was approved unanimously.