MyMacs.ca Community Website Design

Mac's Convenience Stores

See the MyMacs website in action! Visit MyMacs.ca

Mac’s Convenience Stores really needed an online presence that matched the funky-cool look of their new impact stores. They knew their website was stale and corporate — a reminder of days when bandwidth was scarce, images were small and HTML tables were still common practice. How could a convenience store website be fun and engaging? Would the investment in a new website drive people into their stores and increase sales? Mac’s approached Six Twelve Creative and asked how we could help.

Do you need a website or a Website?

Six Twelve listened to the challenges Mac’s faced, we learned their values and, based on the agreed-upon goals, we developed a strategy that allowed Mac’s to capitalize on the opportunities behind those challenges. Sure, our strategy included a website, but the real bang is in how we use that website to drive people, and sales, into Mac’s stores.

Watchya gonna do with it?

The saying, “If you build it, they will come,” does not apply to websites. Allowing people to register on your website does not mean they will. And providing the capability for users to contribute content – well, that opens the door for all kinds of unwanted behaviour.

With a little Six Twelve brain-magic and a few sheets of crumpled paper (yes, we still start with paper), Mac’s was looking at a set of online web systems that would drive people to their new website, motivate them to register as members, guide the type of content they would contribute and prevent any inappropriate content from being published.

Mac’s bought into our ideas, largely because they made sense. We understand the tools and technologies available, we have the knowledge to combine them in the right ways, and we are skilled at implementing our solutions.

Within 6 months of launching this brand new website on a brand new domain, we had achieved over 12,500 registered members within Western Canada (BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba).

Web 2.0 – Social Media Website Design

You can skip this section. This is the part where we have to insert trendy buzzwords like Social Media Marketing and Web 2.0 Strategy, and how it applies to web design. This is the kind of stuff that everybody is talking about, but very few really understand.

Most people are pretty sure they need some social media exposure. The danger lies in how many think they know what it means, how it can be used effectively and for what purpose. We could suggest that we know a few things about Social Media and building Social Media websites, however that would put us in the same pile as the rest of them.

Let’s just leave it with a few stats.

As of early July 2010, MyMacs.ca and the MyMacs Social Media Strategy included over 25,000 registered members (over 9,000 of which allowed a minimum of monthly email contact), over 25,000 Facebook fans, a multi-player online contest game with over 9,000 players, and a handful of Twitter followers — and Mac’s owns their customer database.

The question more people should be asking is: When shouldn’t I be using Social Media?

Are you licensed to drive that thing?

Not only that, but Mac’s has control of their own website (What!?). Yes – that’s right, we designed the whole thing so that they can update their own specials and promotions. They can add and edit content. We built them a contest system so they can publish and manage online contests, and even schedule them in advance. And we built the whole system so it can be run on any standard web server.

By giving our clients complete freedom and independence, we establish trust. We excel at building and maintaining long-term relationships.

It should probably be mentioned that, while we like to give you control of your own website, we won’t leave you stranded. Some clients like to have the control; others prefer to leave it with us. Most often, it becomes a team effort.

What does this all have to do with Pirates?

Whoa, whoa, whoa! That’s a story that won’t fit this space! Pirates had a lot to do with the success of MyMacs.ca and you should find out how! Read about how some scurvy blaggarts made off with $100,000 from Mac’s, and about how the huge success of the game has resulted in Mac’s asking us to create a new game promotion for Fall 2010.

Technology partnerships

We’re a smart group here at Six Twelve, but we can’t be experts at everything. By leveraging strategic partnerships for specific technologies, we can provide unmatched expertise while maintaining a lean staff — a strategy that allows us to deliver more for less. Six Twelve is very proud to work with The Jibe Multimedia, who provided the back-end Drupal programming for MyMacs and a wealth of knowledge along the way. The Jibe is not just any subcontractor, but a partner who we continue to work with and who have demonstrated the same passion, excellence, and accountability that is so important to us. You can learn more about the custom Drupal programming behind MyMacs by reading The Jibe’s case study, Customer Engagement through Social Media.

How can you get to where we are?

MyMacs.ca features a great store locator that makes use of the Google Maps API to customize the location pins and pop-up bubbles within the map window. The MyMacs store locator also supports directions from your current location, or a starting point can be entered to provide turn-by-turn directions from anywhere to your favourite Mac’s. Store specific amenities are included such as ATM machines and Gas Bars, including their associated brands. Store searches also include the option to limit your search results to stores that meet your criteria. For example, you could search for Mac’s stores near Lethbridge that are 24hr and have a Gas Bar, and then you could get turn-by-turn directions starting from the West Edmonton Mall.

And there are a ton of other features that we could go on-and-on about, but if you’ve made it this far, you’ve done really well! If you just have to hear more, then we should probably meet, maybe over lunch.

What I meant was how can I get that for my company?

We would love to listen to your story, and suggest some ways that we could help you and your company. We’re fun, down to Earth, and really good at what we do. Please call, email, or even send us a letter if you still prefer that kind of thing.

Click here for our Contact Info.

And thanks – for your time and your interest.

– 612 Creative Team