GBS Participates in Derrick’s 2016 Business Review

Gibbons Business Solutions Expands Team and Services

Gibbons Business Solutions (GBS) opened in 2014 offering a new model for marketing solutions and business development services. The company focuses on affordable, professional, digital, print, web-based and social media marketing solutions for businesses, government agencies, and organizations. With recent additions, GBS now offers a much broader range of services for this same market, but also for individuals.

What sets GBS apart is their “complete source” approach to building a brand, using the full spectrum of technology available and decades of technical expertise. GBS provides overall project management, bringing together a creative team to coordinate a comprehensive marketing brand for small- to medium-sized businesses and organizations that cannot afford to employ their own marketing department.

Gibbons’ team of experienced and talented specialists provides her customers with a unique “on-demand” creative staff that can fill the customer’s needs when they need it, at a cost significantly below employing equivalent talent. From set-up and management of social media accounts, to graphic design for web or print advertising, video production, illustration and animation, photography, self publishing, training, consulting, job search training and documents, and many web based business solutions including website design and hosting, GBS appropriately promotes itself as being a full-solution marketing company.

“I build networks”, says GBS owner Holly Lynn Gibbons. “And I scale that network to meet customer needs. We focus on building a consistent brand message specific to the customer.” Gibbons explains that while you can look for the talent and bid out projects on your own, she has already vetted the talent and can save you the time and frustration of managing a project when you could be focusing on your business. “We are the marketing director that manages the projects, builds a comprehensive and cohesive message, and has the talent available to help you build your brand.  We match that talent to your project, building your brand in a coordinated and consistent package that fits your objectives.  GBS provides the consultation, project management and talent for a successful project.”

Gibbons says the economy has created an increasing number of workers moving into freelance work. As companies cut back their workforces and their advertising budgets, many of these creative professionals went out on their own.  “Nationwide, the number of freelancers is already at 53.7 million; that’s 34% of the workforce, and it’s predicted to increase to 50% by 2020.” Gibbons explains.  “I’m making use of this growing segment of the workforce by building a freelance team that I can connect with local businesses in need of their services.”  She added that freelance creative, sales and technology experts are small businesses too.  “I’m in the B2B business; connecting one business with another, providing work for one business while meeting another business’ needs.”

This ability to provide complete marketing solutions has resulted in customers who make use of many of GBS’s services. These are mid-level industries poised to grow our region and have contracted with GBS for all their PR and Marketing needs.  “The mid-level manufacturers with 50 to100 or so employees are a great example of our ability to help a company grow without the expense of hiring their own in-house marketing team,” Gibbons says.  “Our goal is to help double their growth potential with our website design, print materials, social media profiles, inside sales development, presentation materials and video production services. GBS can provide the talent they need at a lower cost and jump-start a small company’s growth, minus the growing pains. In a short amount of time, we are seeing this succeed and we are thrilled!”

In 2015 GBS added to their Business Marketing services, including Inside Sales Development (list generation and lead qualifying) and Affordable Publications (manuscript editing and online book publication), both of which are taking hold as in-demand services. The company also added Career Development services, such as mock interviews, resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, professional bios and job search document editing.

Gibbons’ company saw a significant increase in the demand for their web design services in 2015 and anticipates more growth for this service in 2016. GBS provides complete website services, from domain registration to hosting, design, graphics, video production, photography, content writing, blog posts, social media integration, and search engine optimization (SEO), offering packages for monthly site traffic reports which measure ROI.  GBS also offers e-commerce website development for businesses and organizations seeking to reach beyond the regional market for sale of their products.

One of the company’s many affordable services, video production, can launch a business, organization or artist/artisan into the web marketing arena. GBS has the script writer, graphic designer, animator, videographers, editors and voice-over talent to produce creative and professional video assets.  These can be loaded onto your website, shared on your YouTube channel or social media platforms and feature your facility, products, services, staff, or your creation/production process.  Gibbons says that videos are a more interactive way to engage your customers or potential customers and grow your sales and brand awareness.

While Website Design is a significant part of their business, GBS also offers Email Marketing, Digital Signage Systems, Computer/Internet Training and SMB (small to medium business) hardware and installation services.  Many businesses and professionals avoid establishing a website and social media accounts because they either don’t know how to utilize or don’t have the time to maintain these tools in their already busy schedules.  GBS can handle the development and maintenance of these marketing platforms, helping the business build their customer base while the client focuses on their business.  With Gibbons’ computer and Internet training services (either classroom, web-based or one-on-one) the business owner can learn the skills they need to manage these tools on their own.

GBS’s growth in 2015 also resulted in the hiring of Sales Manager, Cheri Pearce, who comes to GBS with over 20 years sales experience in radio and print, administrative & HR support, customer service and community promotion. “We are setting the model – laying the groundwork for something new. It’s exciting to take what we know from years of experience and applying it in a new way to help generate growth in our region,” Pearce said.

Gibbons has more changes planned for 2016, including the addition of more freelance technical, sales and creative team members, as well as the addition of more services to their already extensive offering. Some of these new services will include expanded leadership training offerings; the production of webinars to be available on their website; proposal and grant writing services; PowerPoint presentation development; creating and manning trade show booths for businesses and organizations; and offering several new cloud computing services.

GBS team members share their insights and expertise with new blog posts several times a month on the company website, which are shared on the GBS social media pages. January 2016 will also see the launch of GBS Connections, a free quarterly newsletter designed to keep Gibbons’ clients informed about the company’s services, specials, team members, customer success stories, trainings, and marketing tips.  You can request an e-mail copy by contacting GBS via phone or e-mail.

Currently focusing its efforts in northwest PA, GBS is gearing up to expand its marketing to a wider geographic area. Gibbons says while she will be broadening her marketing efforts and continues to develop more accounts within her current market area, her client relationships will always remain her focus.  “We are all about building strong relationships with our customers – and helping them to do the same with their customers.”

The GBS offices are located on the second floor of the Oil City Business Innovation Center at 679 Colbert Ave. In their recently upgraded computer lab, GBS offers affordable application and social media courses. Gibbons is also a contracted instructor for Continuing Education Courses at Venango College with plans for developing additional Senior Link Courses (beyond the “Senior Bootcamp”) to her training schedule in 2016.  “We plan to launch a level II Bootcamp in 2016, for those Seniors who have taken our level I Bootcamp and want to expand their knowledge further,” says Gibbons.

Gibbons Business Solutions is a member of the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce, Mercer Chamber of Commerce, and Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce. Call 814-657-6800 to learn more. Look for Gibbons Business Solutions on the web at www.gibbons-business-solutions.com or follow any or all of the social media platforms listed on the company’s website.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *