The individuals behind SaveandMakeMoola, LLC (SAMM) originally approached ThreeCell with the idea of creating an online coupon and savings website. Our instructions were simply to “make it happen”. We were tasked with the responsibility of literally creating a company from the ground floor up. Truth be told, when we began this process, there was technically no ground floor to begin with. It was just ground.

This presented us with an exciting opportunity to showcase all of our talents in a single yet truly multi-faceted effort. The project would require the effective use of every one of ThreeCell’s services from start to finish, and the challenge stirred the creative spirit within all of our team members.

The first step was to create a corporate brand that would be memorable for the website’s target audience comprised mostly of women between 18 and 44. Based on feedback from a number of focus groups, our team of designers arrived at the company’s new mascot “Sam Moola”, an unassuming calf who communicates primarily with posters and occasionally thought bubbles. His innocent and unobtrusive stare was found to be an instant hit with many of SAMM’s now loyal followers. The logo was to be an emblem that captured the strength of the company’s offerings combined with the fun of online shopping.

The site’s design established a unique balance between professionalism and light-heartedness. The strong blue gradients that made up the site’s background were a deliberate contrast to the jovial mix of bright vibrant colors in the site itself. The mascot’s blinking eyes and wagging tail added a subtle yet invaluable element of fun to the user experience.

ThreeCell went through painstaking efforts to tactfully and creatively brand Samm throughout the site. We wanted to make sure Samm Moola had a strong presence without having an overwhelming effect on the user. In the world of branding, there is a fine line between being forgettable and burdensome. We believe that we’ve walked that line successfully and passed with flying colors.

The site’s looks were only a part of the equation. As we’ve stated before, form without function is of little worth. We extensively researched the navigational tendencies of our target audience, studied the competitive landscape of the online coupon industry, and ultimately developed a site structure that would be easily navigable and highly intuitive. Store categories are conveniently laid out on the left side of the page giving users immediate access to the information they want. Alternatively, users can search for coupons by store name or use the search box. These kinds of usability considerations , among a wealth of others, have greatly contributed to a user’s willingness to shop at the site.

In the online coupon world, the delivery of fresh content is the difference between long-term success and instant failure. Online coupons and deals inherently operate on short-lived timelines and users have little use for a site that is lagging behind on updates. With that in mind, SAMM is supported by a fully functional content management system that allows the company to exercise complete control over its information. With over 20,000 pages of information, 18,000 coupons, and representing over 3,500 stores, the site’s backend system was an accomplishment that our entire team was proud of. Virtually every page of the site is content administrable ultimately giving our client a site that is just as impressive on the inside as it is on the outside.

When running a site of this magnitude, extra attention must be paid to the hosting environment. ThreeCell’s web servers were configured to optimally run the databases and languages used to create SAMM. Even more importantly, the site’s operating environment was set up to support a site that could receive tens of thousands of visitors per day.

Once the site was up and running on ThreeCell’s test web servers, we shifted gears to online marketing and social media. Social media and search engine success have become inextricably linked. Because SAMM was already coded using the best techniques in search engine optimization, it was in a prime position to leverage the benefits of social media.

Our team created Facebook and Twitter pages with custom graphics and meaningful content designed to encourage repeat visits from users. In addition, a Moola Saver’s blog was developed to give its audience even more access to the latest coupons and deals. Facebook advertising campaigns were launched to help establish brand recognition across a wide range of users. Our team developed custom Flash advertisements to capture the excitement of SAMM’s latest offerings. Following the official launch of the website, online press releases were issued on a monthly basis to increase the company’s reach into specific demographic segments. All of these social media strategies combined gave SAMM unprecedented media exposure within a limited amount of time.

In looking to further connect SAMM with its customers, ThreeCell created a Daily, Weekly, and Monthly online newsletter that gave users direct access to the SAMM’s latest deals. Users could sign up for this service via the website and adjust their preferences accordingly.

Corporate business cards were designed as vertical prints to further SAMM’s unique sense of style.

Today, SaMM has firmly established itself as one of the premiere online coupon and savings websites. ThreeCell’s team is proud to have been the creative force in “making it happen”.