Let me get this straight...

Just from my own observations, it would seem that most of the agencies in Idaho are doing very little, or so the "news" sections of their websites would have you believe (if they even have a news section, that is)...

Here's just a sample:
Stoltz Marketing Group - the last news item on their site is dated January 5, 2006. Apparently they've taken the rest of the winter off?
Noot Group - heck, from their site I'd guess they checked out almost a year ago!
What's even more shocking is the number of agency websites that don't even bother to include a news area within their own websites. Come on folks! Give people a reason to visit your site more than once every two years! How am I, as a visitor to an agency's website, supposed to know what's new if the whole thing looks exactly the same as it did the last time I was there. Added to your portfolio recently? Well then tell me about it. Odds are, I'll read the news that's there, and then go on to another section (such as a portfolio). See where this is going...

From a potential client's point of view -- give me a reason to go to your site regularly, and they'll go back to your site regularly. The more often they visit, the better they get to know the agency. The better they know the agency, the easier time they'll have deciding whether or not you're the right place for them to take their business. If they never see any changes, though, the site, and consequently the company, looks stale -- not the kind of place I'd take my business if it were my choice to make.

Now I've heard the arguments that this is a face-to-face business, and in a lot of cases, yes it is. But let's face it (no pun intended), your website is the face of your business online. So why would you continue to have a stale, faceless site out there?

As always, there are exceptions to the rule, notably:
Oliver Russell - since the redesign of their site, they've done a good job of putting out bits and pieces in their "What's Happening" section. A few stories each month/tidbits of info is all, but its enough to keep me going back to see what's new.
Es/drake - for the past couple of months their site has been promising changes, but I've yet to see it happen. Jury is still out.

Technorati tags: idaho ad agency news, stoltz marketing group, noot group, oliver russell, es drake