Author: Saffire

Rodeo Austin Wins Again!

Saffire is proud to announce that one of our clients, Rodeo Austin, has won a 2011 W3 Gold Award! The W3 is the first major web competition to honor innovation and creative excellence for everyone from the smallest agencies to Fortune 500 companies.  Check out the Winners Gallery to see other projects recognized by W3. … Continue reading “Rodeo Austin Wins Again!”

Saffire is proud to announce that one of our clients, Rodeo Austin, has won a 2011 W3 Gold Award!

The W3 is the first major web competition to honor innovation and creative excellence for everyone from the smallest agencies to Fortune 500 companies.  Check out the Winners Gallery to see other projects recognized by W3.

The W3 is sanctioned and judged by the International Academy of the Visual Arts.  IAVA members include executives from organizations like Disney, Coach, The Ellen Degeneres Show, Microsoft, MTV Networks, Yahoo! and more.

The  Saffire team is very excited about this achievement.  We want to thank Rodeo Austin for trusting our award-winning software to create their website and congratulate them on this accomplishment!

Fire Relief: The Concert for Central Texas

The Austin office had the opportunity to support our neighbors in Bastrop last night by attending Fire Relief: The Concert for Central Texas.  It was an evening filled with some of the best live musicians around and a great example of our community pulling together to support one another. The lineup included Texas Country All-Stars … Continue reading “Fire Relief: The Concert for Central Texas”

The Austin office had the opportunity to support our neighbors in Bastrop last night by attending Fire Relief: The Concert for Central Texas.  It was an evening filled with some of the best live musicians around and a great example of our community pulling together to support one another.

The lineup included Texas Country All-Stars like Asleep at the Wheel, Lyle Lovett, Randy Rogers, Willie Nelson, Dixie Chicks and George Strait!

There were so many great moments last night, we wanted to give you a little glimpse of the greatness by sharing our favorite things about the concert.

Kendra: I loved George’s understated cool presence, how the Dixie Chicks didn’t try to show us anything new but just reminded us how amazing they were, and how Willie still made me so happy after all these times seeing him. Great show!

Rebekah: Last night, I witnessed the perfect combination of some of my favorite musicians when Ray Benson, Willie Nelson and the Avett Brothers sang “On The Road Again.”  I mean really, nothing can top that….except maybe the Dixie Chicks singing “Cowboy Take Me Away.”  Please don’t make me choose a favorite!

Jessica: The best part of last night was simply seeing so many amazing Texas artists, in various stages of popularity and stardom, pooling their talents to help raise money for a fellow Texas community in need.  For me, it was my first time to see Flaco Jimenez and the Texas Tornados live, as well as Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, both of which lived up to the iconic status I had built up in my mind.  And while it wasn’t’ my first time to see George, Willie, the Dixie Chicks or Asleep at the Wheel, it was a rare and special thing to see them all together in one night.  Throw in a few guests spots from Coach Taylor (a.k.a. Buddy Jackson, a.k.a. Kyle Chandler), and consider my night completely made!

Cassie: You know I’m a country girl at heart, so this was definitely the event for me. Seeing the Dixie Chicks was fantastic. It was like going back to middle school all over again. Randy Rogers Band was a nice addition too – gotta love some good Texas Country! I was so proud of the city of Austin for the large turn out. Events like this show what our city is made of, and I’m proud to call it my home!

We wish we had photos to show you, but iPhone photos just won’t do this concert justice.  Check out concert photos here!

We’d also like to remind you that you can still do your part to support the people of Bastrop!

Text FIRE to number 84465 to donate $10 to the Central Texas Wildfire Fund through the Austin Community Foundation.

Fairs Everywhere is Here!

Have you ever wanted a way to find detailed information about multiple fairs in one place?  Well, your solution has arrived! Saffire is proud to announce that we have partnered with the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) to sponsor a new kind of event calendar to promote the fair industry online. Friends, we … Continue reading “Fairs Everywhere is Here!”

Have you ever wanted a way to find detailed information about multiple fairs in one place?  Well, your solution has arrived!

Saffire is proud to announce that we have partnered with the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) to sponsor a new kind of event calendar to promote the fair industry online.

Friends, we are happy to present Fairs Everywhere!

This one-stop-shop for fairs, vendors, sponsors, volunteers and patrons is built on the Saffire software platform that provides the very latest information people are searching for about events in an interactive format.

We officially launched the site yesterday at www.fairseverywhere.com, as well as the “Find Fairs Everywhere” tool on the IAFE website.

Our main goal is to enhance the online presence of the fair industry by introducing a user-friendly website that will allow the public to find information about fairs around the world in one place.

Better yet, all of the events on Fairs Everywhere can be filtered by region, date, “Our Picks” and “Fan Picks” so customers can quickly find what they are looking for.

Fairs Everywhere will also provide the name, description, date, time, cost, photos, social media outlets and website URL for each individual event.

We want to thank IAFE for partnering with us to create something impressive and unique for people interested in the fair industry.

We couldn’t have done it without you!

Give us a call at 512.430.1123 or email info@fairseverywhere.com so we can keep your event’s information as up to date as possible.

Make Your Site Easy To Navigate

I recently set off on a road trip only knowing the general direction I was headed, but not the slightest idea where I was going once I got off the highway.  But I wasn’t worried, I had my trusty GPS riding shotgun. Our culture depends so heavily on others telling us where to go and … Continue reading “Make Your Site Easy To Navigate”

I recently set off on a road trip only knowing the general direction I was headed, but not the slightest idea where I was going once I got off the highway.  But I wasn’t worried, I had my trusty GPS riding shotgun.

Our culture depends so heavily on others telling us where to go and what to do, if we are left to find our own way we are startled and confused.  And maybe even appalled at the “low level of customer service.”

Imagine if you were in a mall and you stopped an employee to ask for a map so you could find your favorite store and he simply looked at you and said, “You’re on your own kid.”  You would be left to aimlessly wander around trying to find Dillard’s.  Now if it were me, I’d say “Forget it!” and find another place to shop that seemed to actually care that I found my way.

The same goes for your website.  If a customer arrives and can’t find the piece of information they are looking for, they may throw their hands up and quit.

The navigation of your site is key. You need to take time to think about how your customers will look for information and cater to them.  You will have some very happy customers if you simply  give them site navigation that makes sense and allows your visitors the ability to quickly and easily find the event information they need.

We all know your event information is intricate, so make it accessible, highly filterable and easy to sort. A great website provides visitors with a tailored user experience, allowing customers to search and browse as they see fit.

So take the time to plan out your website’s navigation the same way you plan out the schedule of events for your fair, festival or rodeo.  Use logic and you can’t go wrong.

2011 Global Rodeo Conference

I just got back from the Global Rodeo Conference in Omaha, Nebraska and I’m so excited to tell you about the great experiences I had on September 22-23.  I attended the conference to give a presentation called “Is Your Website All Hat and No Cattle?” It focused on the importance of Google being able to … Continue reading “2011 Global Rodeo Conference”

I just got back from the Global Rodeo Conference in Omaha, Nebraska and I’m so excited to tell you about the great experiences I had on September 22-23.  I attended the conference to give a presentation called “Is Your Website All Hat and No Cattle?”

It focused on the importance of Google being able to find websites, the benefits of using social media and how web design can help increase revenue online.  I was especially happy to see that our friends from Rodeo Austin, were in Omaha for the conference!  I really appreciated their support for my presentation and it was great to see them.

Although my presentation went well, my trip ended up being about so much more! I was thrilled to learn as much as I could about rodeo from the other speakers.  One of the presentations was given by the Vice President and COO of Rodeo Houston, Leroy Shafer.

He gave the history of the rodeo from the time it was established in 1931 and how they now run the biggest rodeo in America. It was great listening to their story of success over the years from someone who has actually been there through it all.  He mentioned how the current rodeo audience is growing older and it made me realize the necessity and relevance of the work we do here at Saffire. Online marketing reaches a younger crowd and will help keep rodeo relevant.

I was also thrilled to meet so many great people in attendance at the conference. After working with Rodeo Austin, one of my favorite things to do is to listen to how different committees make their rodeos tick and how each of them are unique in their own way. By the end of my time in Omaha, I felt like I knew so much more about how rodeo works, and I really enjoyed meeting a lot of new friends.

Finally, since the conference was going on at the same time as the 2011 Justin Boots Championship Rodeo & the Ak-Sar-Ben 4H Stock Show, I had to go see some of the action! (You all know I’m a rodeo girl at heart!) I had the chance to see some of the animals out back behind the conference center and some of the cattle in the livestock show.  At the end of the two day conference, I felt that the Global Rodeo Conference was not only fun but also such a learning experience.

I want to personally thank the members of the Association of Rodeo Committees for allowing me to participate!  I had a wonderful time and can’t wait until next year!

Brazos Valley Fair Ribbon Cutting

Congratulations to the Brazos Valley Fair on their official ribbon cutting last night!  It was a great evening filled with fair-food and lots of support from the community.  We were so glad we were able to be a part of the celebration. Cassie enjoyed the yummy funnel cakes provided by Lazy B Catering. Rebekah was … Continue reading “Brazos Valley Fair Ribbon Cutting”

Congratulations to the Brazos Valley Fair on their official ribbon cutting last night!  It was a great evening filled with fair-food and lots of support from the community.  We were so glad we were able to be a part of the celebration.


Cassie enjoyed the yummy funnel cakes provided by Lazy B Catering.


Rebekah was happy that Brazos Valley supplied her favorite souvenir: koozies!


Don’t worry, the cowbells were a big hit too!


Travis Boeker, General Manager, told the audience that he contacted TAFE and they could not tell him the last time a fair started from scratch in the state of Texas.  What an accomplishment Brazos Valley!


Travis Boeker and Karl Hengst, Assistant Manager, join with the staff of the Brazos Valley Expo and members of the Board of Directors to officially celebrate the beginning of the Brazos Valley Fair.


Thanks to Brazos Valley for inviting us to be a part of your special evening!  We are grateful for our partnership and can’t wait to come back in 350 days for the beginning of your event!

Maintain Your Website with Ease

The focus of a fair, rodeo or festival is never really the same two days in a row.  As soon as Monday ends, you’re thinking about Tuesday’s evening special.  And when the 2011 fair wraps, planning for 2012 is well under way. Your website should be just as fluid as you are and ready to … Continue reading “Maintain Your Website with Ease”

The focus of a fair, rodeo or festival is never really the same two days in a row.  As soon as Monday ends, you’re thinking about Tuesday’s evening special.  And when the 2011 fair wraps, planning for 2012 is well under way.

Your website should be just as fluid as you are and ready to promote the next, new thing at the drop of a hat.

It is important to keep your site fresh and up-to-date by changing features and updating event information on the fly.  Your customers will not appreciate how hard it may be to nail down your webmaster for a quick content change.  They just want to know the nightly special as soon as they arrive on your site!

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: we live in an age of instant gratification.

So how can you take control?  We suggest having a friendly admin site which will allow you to efficiently manage your website content, without needing a web developer to do it for you.

Can you imagine being able to make changes to your website instantly and on your own? I know it might sound like something you’ve only dreamed of, but it can now be a reality!

We’ve mentioned before on our blog the power of Do-It-Yourself and how important we think it is, particularly for events.  There is technology available to finally give you the power when it comes to your website, so find the system that works for you.

Help Customers Easily Find Your Site

The truth is, it doesn’t matter how attractive or user-friendly your website is if your customers can’t find you online! So let’s start by thinking about how you find things on the web.   If you’re looking for a specifc product of event, I’m sure your first step is to go to Google or another search … Continue reading “Help Customers Easily Find Your Site”

The truth is, it doesn’t matter how attractive or user-friendly your website is if your customers can’t find you online!

So let’s start by thinking about how you find things on the web.   If you’re looking for a specifc product of event, I’m sure your first step is to go to Google or another search engine.

You type in a simple description of what you’re looking for and gets hundreds, sometimes thousands, of results.

Then you  sift through the results to find what you were looking for.  Sometimes you even feel like Google read your mind and gave you what you were looking for even though the description you entered wasn’t exactly right.

Using a search engine has become so second nature, we often don’t  take time to think how Google works and finds the results we’re looking for.

So for your event website, I’m sure your goal is to be the first result a search engine pulls up so your customers find you quickly.  But in order for your customers to find you quickly, search engines have to find you first.

And that is where SEO comes in.

SEO stands for “Search Engine Optimization” which is incorporating key words and phrases customers use to find your site into both content and HTML.  By incorporating these key words and phrases, a search engine will quickly scan your website and associate it with the terms you use most.

This way, when a customer searches for “Austin Rodeo”, our website for Rodeo Austin will be the first result to appear because those terms appear over and over again on their site.

So as you are writing the content for your website, think like your customer. What words and phrases would you use to find your event website?

Brazos Valley Fair & Expo is Live!

Saffire and the Brazos Valley Fair & Expo are pleased to announce a partnership as we work together to create an online presence for the first annual Brazos Valley Fair & Expo event, scheduled for Fall 2012.   Saffire has designed and launched the website for the event. The Brazos Valley Fair & Expo is a … Continue reading “Brazos Valley Fair & Expo is Live!”

Saffire and the Brazos Valley Fair & Expo are pleased to announce a partnership as we work together to create an online presence for the first annual Brazos Valley Fair & Expo event, scheduled for Fall 2012.   Saffire has designed and launched the website for the event.

The Brazos Valley Fair & Expo is a brand new, mid-sized fair committed to “Showcasing Agriculture, Education and Youth to Enhance our Texas Culture.”  The event will be held September 6-9, 2012 and will include a carnival, rodeo, junior livestock show, open livestock show, family-friendly exhibits, music and entertainment.

The website for the event is now accessible at www.brazosvalleyfair.com. The site is designed for easy consumer interaction.

“We didn’t know what to expect from web development companies since this is our first event specific website,” said Karl Hengst, Assistant Manager of the Brazos Valley Fair & Expo, “but after the team at Saffire walked us through a demo of their software, we knew it was the right choice.  We saw all the functionality and how user-friendly their sites were, and we felt at ease instantly.  They answered a lot of questions we didn’t even know we had!  We are excited about the future of this partnership with Saffire.”

“We are thrilled to work with the team at the Brazos Valley Fair & Expo to help create and fulfill their vision for this event,” said Kendra Wright, President of Saffire. “And even though this is a brand new event, the fair industry has been buzzing with excitement about its launch for quite a while.  We are looking forward to being a part of this new venture and helping them live up to all the hype.”

The Brazos Valley Fair & Expo website includes ecommerce functionality, content management and sponsor, vendor and volunteer administration. It also incorporates an interactive event schedule to help people find and share the events they want to attend.

The Brazos Valley Fair & Expo maintains a cohesive look and feel across their entire online presence by including a blog, Facebook, Twitter and email marketing designed template. It also includes a mobile version of the website so people can access information about the fair from wherever they are.

Congrats to the team at Brazos Valley!  It’s been a pleasure working with you and we can’t wait to see what’s next.

2011 College Football Predictions

Do you feel that?  It’s something different in the air this week…excitement and a little bit of animosity. That’s right ladies and gents, it’s college football season!  The truth is that the folks in Austin and Portland have some pretty different views on how this season will turn out, so we decided to share our … Continue reading “2011 College Football Predictions”

Do you feel that?  It’s something different in the air this week…excitement and a little bit of animosity.

That’s right ladies and gents, it’s college football season! 

The truth is that the folks in Austin and Portland have some pretty different views on how this season will turn out, so we decided to share our predictions for who will win it all in the 2011-12 NCAA College Football Season with you.

Who is going to take home the big prize this year?  Well, let the guesses and trash talking begin!

OU

Aaron

The University of Oklahoma – I’m curious to see if I’ll be able to hear the disappointment in Texas if OU wins it all.
ASU

Adam

I’m going to pick Arizona State. I actually almost ended up going to college there (and the Beavers keep letting me down).
Nebraska

Cassie

Even though the Texas Longhorns won six years of my tuition dollars, my season ticket purchase and their own ESPN network (HOOK EM HORNS!), I don’t think this is their year for a title run. I’m going to pick the Nebraska Cornhuskers, making their Big Ten conference debut. There is no place like Nebraska: Taylor Martinez is now an experienced QB, and DT Jared Crick was voted the preseason #1 player in his new conference, making the blackshirt defense hard to beat. The Huskers’ success ultimately hinges on their ability to develop the passing game, which seems to always be Nebraska’s biggest downfall–are you listening Bo Pelini? GO BIG RED!
Oregon

Chris

I’m rooting for the University of Oregon because I’m from Oregon. And I like all 384 combinations of their uniforms. Go Ducks!
Oregon

Dan

I’m going with the Oregon Ducks. They have a lot of returning players and I think they can go all the way this year.
Texas

Jessica

Call me a Homer but my prediction for the 2011 National Championship team is the University of Texas Longhorns. You may say it’s “just” a rebuilding year, but I say we’re rebuilding our way all the way back to the top, baby! Fortunately, college football is a game of passion and heart, so it’s not completely unheard of an AP Poll, preseason unranked team to walk away with the title. The Horns’ new coaching staff will ignite that fire to lead us to victory, week in and week out! Hook ‘Em!
Seattle Seahawks

Jeremy

Last year, I chose my dear Portland State University Vikings, only to be mocked by everyone in my office. This year, I have aimed to be a little more realistic, so I am choosing my also beloved Seattle Seahawks to win the NCAA National Championship. With the off-season acquisition of Tarvaris Jackson, under the tutelage of former outstanding college head coach Pete Carroll. I am quite certain that we would have a way better chance of winning something if we were playing at the NCAA level. Go ‘Hawks!
Boise State

Justin

I’m going with Boise State. They are returning the same team that climbed to as high as No. 2 in the rankings in 2010. The senior class is 38-2 since 2008 and are ready for the big time this year.
Oregon

Kendra

Although OU has is one of the strongest returning teams, as a Longhorn, there is no way that I can pick them to win.

So I am picking the Oregon Ducks.

15 of 22 starters are returning, and assuming a win against LSU this Saturday at Cowboys Stadium, their only schedule challenge will be Stanford on Nov. 12th, which will easily be the biggest Pac 12 game of the season and could be 1 vs. 2 match-up by that time.
Texas

Monika

As I thought about my prediction, I looked at the top teams and realized that I hate them all so much I couldn’t bear to pick any of them. My “other” perennial favorite, Ohio State (I was born in Ohio and raised by Buckeyes), just admitted their coach was a cheater-pants, so I obviously can’t pick them.

So what’s a girl to do? I’ll pick my Alma Mater and root for my Texas Longhorns, although all I’m personally hoping for is a running game and a winning season.
Baylor

Rebekah

With the return of star quarterback Robert Griffin III, the Baylor Bears are hopeful to prove they aren’t just the little sister of the Big XII anymore with a winning season in 2011-2012. (By the way, am I the only one that doesn’t understand why it’s still called the Big XII if there are only 10 teams?) Crossing my fingers for a bowl game again! Sic ‘em Bears!