Digital: Foursquare Mulls Revenue Model for Brands – Advertising Age – Digital
I’ve been following Foursquare for a while now – when I first read about it I could definitely see the potential…even if not exactly how brands could capitalize. But this article illustrates that my gut was right and brands are trying to figure out how to make the social networking game work for them.
Digital: Foursquare Mulls Revenue Model for Brands – Advertising Age – Digital.
Add comment February 4, 2010
Maxim Adds Its Regular Issues to the App Store – Advertising Age – MediaWorks
As I’ve posted before, Mobile will be in 2010 what Twitter was in 2009. This is another big trend – magazines creating content accessible via cell phones. Sports Illustrated has gone a step further in imprinting ads – some on buses and subways or even on hotel keys – with a bar code that, when you photograph it using your phone, will lead you to content. They used this method to promote their perennially favorite Swimsuit Issue.
Maxim Adds Its Regular Issues to the App Store – Advertising Age – MediaWorks.
Add comment February 4, 2010
Sponsor AllFacebook.com
I gave a presentation recently to a local arts group about Social Media. As I would expect from such a varied group, there were those who embraced the idea of this new media, and those who scrunched up their faces, folded their arms across their chests and basically said “Social Media? Bah Humbug.” They had a hard time swallowing what some of the numbers showed – that some 75 percent of online users in America spend some time using social media, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Well, here’s a recent article from ComScore that confirms the popularity of social media, particularly Facebook. “Facebook recorded 111.9 million US visitors in December 2009, compared with 54.5 million visitors in December 2008. This propelled the site to become the 4th most visited web property, up from number 11 in 2008. Facebook now accounts for 7% of all time spent online by US visitors.”
Add comment January 22, 2010
An Ode to Lean, Mean, Fighting Machines | The Big Money
How small businesses can survive through 2010.
Last year was brutal for small businesses, and 2010 promises to be only marginally better. We’ll have to live with “survival as the new success” for a while longer—so here are 10 tips on how to make it through the lean times.
Add comment January 6, 2010
The Essential Startup Reader: 10 Lessons in Entrepreneurship – GigaOM
They say a down economy usually results in more start-ups. While the economic climate may be turning, this list of 10 great reads for entrepreneurs is a great collection of advice for those starting a venture.
The Essential Startup Reader: 10 Lessons in Entrepreneurship – GigaOM.
Add comment January 4, 2010
Advertising: Decade’s Best Tech Innovations in Media/Marketing – Advertising Age – Print Edition
My personal favorite tech innovation of the decade is the DVR. I love that I can watch what I want, when I want to and pause live TV! As a marketer, it’s tricky because even I fast-forward through the commercials.
From a business perspective, I think Search Marketing is the most impactful innovation. It has completely changed how we present products to the marketplace.
What are your thoughts?
Advertising: Decade’s Best Tech Innovations in Media/Marketing – Advertising Age – Print Edition.
Add comment December 17, 2009
10 Web trends to watch in 2010 – CNN.com
Thanks to Pete Cashmore and CNN for a great article on 2010 web/sm trends.
(CNN) — As 2009 draws to a close, the Web’s attention turns to the year ahead. What can we expect of the online realm in 2010?
While Web innovation is unpredictable, some clear trends are becoming apparent. Expect the following 10 themes to define the Web next year:
Add comment December 7, 2009
The 10 Questions You Should Never Stop Asking – Forbes.com
A good article for all businesses as you finish out one year and get ready to great another.
Add comment December 1, 2009
It’s Time to Revisit Strategy
This year has been a tough year. Even the most respected economists can’t say for sure when we will see the real recovery. The good news is that there are positive signs. Even better news is the fact that you made it through one of the roughest recessions in our history. That means you have cleaned out your closets, weeded your garden, upgraded your work force and created a team of employees that are the best of the best. That means you and your company should be poised and ready to really take advantage of the real recovery whenever it happens.
http://www.ceostrategist.com/resources-store/articles.php?id=345
Add comment November 19, 2009
How to create and manage an e-newsletter campaign
E-newsletters are hot! In contrast to their print counterparts, they cost less to produce, allow for more up-to-date information, are more easily shared and are highly trackable. If you haven’t discovered the benefits of an e-newsletter campaign, it’s time to start. Here are some tips:
• First, make sure your database is in the right format; most e-news delivery systems prefer Microsoft Excel or another spreadsheet-style program. And you should save a version of your current dbase with just the email address to keep things simple in importing your dbase. You can add a name in a separate field if you want to include a personal greeting.
• Find a content delivery system. Constant Contact is the most widely used and offers various price levels as well as the opportunity to use the system to deliver surveys. Newcomers RatePoint and Emma are two more you might look into. Most of the more well-known systems are competitive in price and what they offer; you may just feel more comfortable with one of them. Ask a business peer what they use.
• Design your e-newsletter to mesh with your current brand. You should be able to upload your logo and choose brand-supportive colors and fonts. Remember, your e-newsletter is an extension of your core brand, and offers an opportunity to build that equity. Don’t confuse customers with something that doesn’t look like it came from you.
• Develop stories that provide “value-added” information to your readers. Don’t hard-sell them. The purpose of this marketing tool is to gain their trust as a reliable source of helpful information and to build a relationship. Focus 80 percent of your content on topics relating to their business functions and 20 percent – max – on selling your products or services.
• Drive clicks through to your website. The best e-newsletters provide a little bit of teaser detail, then link to a website for the full story. So you might want to set up a “news” section on your site where all of your stories will fall. In doing this, you not only can track what stories are most interesting to your readers but also, in driving them to your site you now give them the opportunity to click around to find out more. That’s how you close the sale.
• Review your stats and make adjustments. After each e-newsletter, check the stats available through your content delivery system (i.e. Constant Contact) to find out what readers read most. After several newsletters, you should be able to see a trend in what topics are most highly valued. Then, make sure you’re focusing on those news items in your upcoming e-newsletters.
E-newsletters are an excellent way to stay in touch with customers, build trust and reach potential new buyers through pass-along readership. You can send your news weekly, if you have lots of stories to tell, or monthly if that seems more manageable for you. If you’re not comfortable developing and writing your own, find a writer and designer who can help you. But whatever you do, don’t miss out on this excellent, affordable marketing tool!
Add comment October 28, 2009
