Attractions and Things to Do in the Des Moines Area

Posted in Des Moines

I grew up in Central Iowa not very far from the Des Moines area. And when I was growing up it was always just sort of understood that Des Moines was boring and didn’t have much to do. That’s the mindset I’ve had for years but it is quickly beginning to change.

The Des Moines you see today is a far cry from what it was 20 years ago, and in a positive way. There is a lot of new life in the city and it is improving every year. These days there is plenty to do in DSM and it has many attractions for people of all ages.

If you are looking for things to do in Des Moines, Iowa here are some popular attractions, entertainment locations, tourist destinations, local nightlife, clubs, groups, culture, sports, and other fun hot spots around the area…

• Iowa State Fair
• Iowa Events Center
• Botanical Center
• Science Center
• Blank Park Zoo
• Adventureland
• Court Avenue District
• East Village
• West Glen Town Center
• Jordan Creek Town Center
• Sleepy Hollow Sports Park
• 80/35 Music Festival
• Des Moines Arts Festival
• Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater
• Iowa Energy, NBA Development League
• Iowa Barnstormers, Arena Football League
• Des Moines Buccaneers, United States Hockey League
• Des Moines Menace Soccer, USL Premier Development League
• Iowa Cubs, Minor league baseball team of the Chicago Cubs
• Drake University
• Iowa State University (not in DSM but a short drive away)
• The Principal Riverwalk
• Grays Lake
• Golf Courses (many of them in the area)
• Pappajohn Sculpture Park
• State Historical Museum
• Downtown Farmers Market
• Capitol Building
• Living History Farms
• Des Moines Symphony
• Historic Valley Junction
• Brenton Skating Plaza
• Des Moines Metro Opera
• Iowa Speedway (just down the road from DSM)
• Prairie Meadows Racetrack, Casino, and Hotel
• Skywalk System
• Water Works Park

…And so much more!

They also have an overall revitalized downtown area with a lot more to do and see. The bars, restaurants, architecture, and social scene is much better than it ever has been before. And there are plans to continue making it better in the coming years.

A blossoming fine dining scene, artistic culture rivaling those of large cities, upscale retail destinations, and many family oriented attractions have converted the Des Moines metro into a fun place to live or just spend a weekend away from home.

In addition to that, Forbes Magazine ranked Des Moines as the 4th best city for business and careers in 2012. Forbes also ranked DSM #1 on their list of best cities for young professionals. Also, CNN Money has West Des Moines in the top 100 in their list of the best places to live in America.

It’s safe to say that Des Moines is not boring anymore! There’s something for everyone in this fine city. Come check it out today!

The Best Internet Marketing and SEO Company in Des Moines

Posted in Des Moines, Local Business

Chances are you found this post by searching on Google for the best internet marketing and SEO company in Des Moines — or some variation of that search. So I am going to assume you already have at least a general idea of what internet marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) are, and why you need them. Otherwise you probably wouldn’t have been searching for them in the first place.

The fact that you are still reading this post right now tells me that you are likely a local business owner in the Des Moines area. And you want your businesses website to be ranked at the top of the search engine results for your industry so you can bring in more customers every month. Am I right so far? Yeah, I know!

There’s little doubt that any good internet marketing specialist and/or SEO company can get you higher rankings, increased website traffic, better brand recognition, and ultimately more sales. That’s the whole point of what they do. If they can’t do that for you and your business then they will go out of business very fast.

So, the question becomes, which online marketing company should you choose?

There are several in the Des Moines area to choose from so you do have some good options. But you want the BEST one, right? I don’t see any reason why you should settle for anything less than the best. Your website/business deserves only the best!

In my experienced, knowledgeable, all-knowing, expert opinion the best Des Moines SEO and internet marketing company is…

…Drum roll please…

Be Always Marketing – BAM!

They have an unmatched top level team, superior support, local vibe, competitive pricing, personal service, and they know how to get the job done! They are passionate about what they do and the results speak for themselves. You will be hard pressed to find a better company anywhere, let alone in the Des Moines area.

Not only that but they have a Certified Google Agent and the #1 ranked Internet Marketing Specialist in the United States on their team! Plus other highly skilled professionals to round it out.

Here are some services that BAM offers. Of course we will start with the obvious ones:

* Search Engine Optimization
* Web Design and Development
* Social Media Marketing
* Search Engine Marketing

But that’s not all. They are a full service marketing company so in addition to the above they also offer:

* Online Reputation Management
* Optimized Lease Pages
* SMS (text/mobile) Marketing
* Keyword Research
* Lead Generation
* Website Analytics Management
* Email Marketing
* Video Production
* Complete Digital Marketing Strategies
* Business Outsourcing
* Internet Consulting
* E-commerce

…And more. If you need it done they can do it for you.

Give them sufficient time to work their magic and your business profits will soar! I can’t speak highly enough about “Be Always Marketing” (BAM). They are awesome! If you are truly looking for the Best Internet Marketing and SEO Company in Des Moines then you must choose BAM! Enough said.

What is Rock in Prevention?

Posted in Des Moines

Have you ever wished there was a better way to keep kids off alcohol and drugs? Have you noticed the traditional methods just don’t seem to work anymore, and never really have? Well, you’re in luck because that’s precisely why Rock in Prevention was born! It is a new age way to teach kids the dangers of substance abuse and help them make positive life choices.

Rock in Prevention (ROCK) is an organization that was founded by Pat McManus and Ray Johnson in 1990 as a fun, informative and effective way to help keep teens off drugs and alcohol. It is located in Des Moines, Iowa.

Pat McManus had counseled teenagers that were addicted to drugs and alcohol. He saw firsthand how devastating the effects were on their lives. He became dedicated to helping them get clean and start over in life, and to prevent other kids from falling into the same trap.

During his research he found that most of the current prevention methods weren’t working because of the way it was presented. Kids just didn’t respond to it. So he used music to get through to them on a deeper level, and found that was much more effective.

Rock in Prevention uses music and arts in a persuasive way to reach kids and help them make positive and healthy choices in life. It teaches life skills, drug awareness, anger management, problem solving, and other things to help kids live up to the full potential. Rock is interactive and social in nature, which is great for keeping the interest of the kids.

To this day ROCK has helped over a million participants. And a study conducted by Iowa State University over multiple years shows that rock in prevention is successful at reducing the use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco in teens. They have also been honored as one of the 20 best prevention programs in the United States.

They have custom programs and school programs to fit the needs of any organization where kids are involved. To sum it up, RockInPrevention is a powerful, creative and positive program that students, teachers, mentors and parents will remember for a lifetime!

A little bit directly from Pat McManus on how the program got started and why…

“In working with kids in treatment, I asked them, why is it that prevention didn’t work for you? They said, it’s just not believable, the stuff they are teaching us and the way they are talking about it just isn’t realistic or reflective of our reality. I said, what would work? They said, if you train high school role models right there from the community you are going to match ethnicity, race, culture, neighborhood, etc… and the kids are going to look up to these mentors who are similar to them. So you use a practical interactive workshop experience with people they can relate to and it will work. I basically took that advice and ran with it to start Rock In Prevention.”

Video: Rock In Prevention Presents Rock PLUS…

For complete information visit their website: Rock in Prevention

Race for the Cure Des Moines

Posted in Des Moines, Events

Hello my fellow Des Moines peeps. Don’t forget that tomorrow (October 22, 2011) is the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure here in DSM. You can still register at the “late registration” tent on site before the race starts.

Location:

State of Iowa Capitol Grounds
Grand Avenue & East 9th Street, Des Moines, IA

Time:

The site opens to the public at 7:00 AM and the 5K Run/Walk starts at 9:00 AM.

For more information you can go to the official event page: Click Here.

Come out and do your part to help find the cure for breast cancer!

Hello Des Moines

Posted in Des Moines

The “Des Moines Post” will be going live soon. We will fully be up and running in the very near future. This site will feature Des Moines news, nightlife, entertainment, restaurants, bars, sports, events, attractions, jobs, classifieds, photos, and so much more! Your one-stop source for everything going on around the DSM area.