2010 Internet Statistics

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Russ Lubin

I have been sent this article about 5 times from different sources so I guess I better share it on our blog on the off chance you might have missed it. The below article has estimated statistics of Internet usage for the entire 2010 calender year.

Some notable statistics are:

107 trillion – The number of emails sent on the Internet in 2010.
88.8 million – .COM domain names at the end of 2010.
14% – Increase in Internet users since the previous year.
600 million – People on Facebook at the end of 2010.
175 million – People on Twitter as of September 2010.
2 billion – The number of videos watched per day on YouTube.

You can read the full article at Pingdom here.

Why is Local Marketing Smart?

Posted on February 16, 2010 by Jeremy LaDuque

There are 10 Billion unique searches done each month on various search engines and it’s estimated that over 57% of those are for local businesses. Google alone has over a Half Billion unique Local Searches per month. The bottom line is that over 50% of people find what they want through local search.

Online Local Marketing
For most businesses the majority of their customers are local, especially if you are a brick and mortar business, a local service provider or a restaurant. Even with the internet the majority of purchases are still made within 30 miles of home. So it is critical to be found for as many pertinent local searches as possible.
What this means is you want to be found under as many combinations of words as you can, locally. For example, you want to come up in search engines for both “San Jose CA Plumber” as well as “Bay Area Plumber”. The more keywords that relate to your local area the better.

The Challenge for Franchise Marketers
Franchise systems have the particular challenge of showing up local because it’s difficult to have unique websites for each location. Typical solutions franchises implement include such things are micropages (http://franchisename.com/franchisee.html), sub-domains (http://franchisee.franchisename.com) and local websites (http://franchiseename.com).

A micro-page is typically a single webpage on the corporate website.

A sub-domain is typically a 2-3 page micro-website.

A local website is typically a branded local website.

A branded local website, such as http://pdromaha.com for a Paul Davis Restoration franchise in Omaha, NE, can deliver significant local search impact. The image below shows the results for both Maps and Organic search that a branded local website can deliver.

Local Search Tips & Tricks
Regardless of how your franchise system is coming up in local search, here are some simple tips for in-creasing your search engine rankings:

Get your local business listed on Search Engine Maps and in major directories:
a. Top Local Search directories, such as Google Maps, Yahoo Local, and Bing Maps
b. Top online Yellow Pages, such as Superpages.com and Yellowpages.com
c. Any other sites with local components

When you optimize your website you must specifically focus on geography and how keywords will
function together with your location. This way, local clients and customers can find you through search engines.

One important aspect in keyword research is to bear in mind there are many local colloquialisms across the country. Different people might be searching for the same thing, but entering two totally different search words. Localized keyword research is much tougher than what it may appear to be.

Remember to use the local geographic description. In our area people identify with the title “Central Coast” so we would ensure that this was one of our key words, i.e. “Central Coast Plumber”.

Inbound linking are very valuable – for instance, if you are a member of a Chamber of Commerce, you can usually have them link to your site at little or no cost. Inbound links like these can be an as-sured gateway to increased targeted traffic

Make sure that you only apply basic html to crucial information on your site such as address, busi-ness name, phone number and email address. Search engines will be able to index a site easily when information is put in simple text and format. A programmer is essential to do this correctly.

Use email marketing. Research shows that email marketing, mass emailing, is still the number one method of marketing online. Make sure you’re asking customers for their emails and have a link your website to join your newsletter.

As a final comment… content is still king! The copy, or content, on your website still matters most to search engines. Specifically, well written copy that includes local keywords, published often (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly) is by far the best tactic you can take to getting the best local search engine rankings possible. Make sure you have access to your website and can make changes easily.

Get Local. Be Local.
Believe it or not… there is more to marketing than the Internet!
The more you can get the neighbors to come to your business, the better. Consider turning your business into a community hub. For example, you could offer your establishment as a venue for dance, cooking or yoga classes. Or, you could do your own fundraiser and encourage patrons to participate. For example, Pastiche Modern Eatery in Tucson, Arizona donates a percentage of every sale to charity, but the business lets the customer decide to which charity they want to donate a part of their check. In addition to highlighting the generosity of Pastiche Modern Eatery, these donations also make the customers feel like they are making a positive difference.
Here are some ideas for being local:

Hit the streets.

Meet the neighbors and engage in personal selling.

Go around to local businesses and corporations with samples and list of your products.

Distribute flyers and door hangers.

Post your product list in a prominent place right outside your business, like in a lit-up display case or on a podium near the walkway.

You could also try holding outdoor events A lot of businesses have found success with sam-pling. For example, when Mrs. Fields Cookies was founded, business was slow. So Debbi Fields started offering samples of her cookies to passersby, and almost immediately her business began to flourish.

Partner with other businesses.

Form partnerships with local hotels, theaters, salons and spas, offices, and any other nearby businesses that fit well with your business and might interact with your potential neighborhood customers. For example, you could offer a discount to guests of the neighboring hotel, and ask them to refer customers to your business if you refer customers to the hotel. Ask other local businesses to participate in a joint promotion, or just make friends with the workers there. Re-member, other businesses’ employees can become your business’s customers.

Is It Really That Easy Going Green? How Alt-E Companies can overcome challenges to increase business

Posted on October 27, 2009 by Jeremy LaDuque

Our article “Is it Really That Easy Going Green” was published in Renewaable Energy World October 2009 (http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/10/is-it-really-that-easy-going-green).

We all know that person who fashionably expresses concern for the destruction of our environment – and then they drive off in their gas-guzzling SUV to their home that’s lit up like a Christmas tree, all while drinking from a coffee cup made from non-recycled paper. Are they lying about caring? I’d like to believe most people would prefer to be environmentally responsible; however, the fear of the associated costs paired with the confusion as to how to actually go green is enough for many to hopelessly throw their hands up in the polluted air.

This is why it can be a challenge for renewable energy companies to convey the value of their services. In addition to the presupposed higher price tags, perplexing industry jargon serves as another roadblock, as it only further bewilders potential customers trying to navigate an already ambiguous industry.

In short, renewable energy companies are often communicating too much data and not enough useful information, which is scaring away potential customers. And if a renewable energy company can’t convince the consumer of the financial, environmental and personal value of their investment, there simply is no sale.

That being said, many renewable energy companies have proactively created an online presence to better communicate to potential customers, but they are still lost in how to best deliver their message. Because of the distinct challenges these companies face in the sales process, the bar is constantly being raised in terms of creative Internet solutions designed to attract and capture valuable customers. It’s really no longer enough to just have a presence online.

Here are four specialized strategies that renewable energy companies should consider in their online marketing efforts:

Create a Local Presence

Renewable energy companies, such as solar providers, should have not only a corporate web site, but also unique web sites for each location where the company provides installations. This makes the company more visible to search engines like Google, thus increasing their ranking when potential local customers search for them. ElementsGreen, for example, can create brand-compliant web sites, domain names and content management solutions for each city or region where installations are made, and the sites can be updated with attractive local content for local customers seeking services.

Engage Your Customers

Because many potential renewable energy customers fear encountering intimidating jargon, they often don’t want to speak with company representatives on the phone and would rather seek information online. Successful online engagement occurs when information is presented in a way that is user-friendly, digestible and relevant to the customer. Some effective web site tools to consider include online calculators that offer a clear breakdown of associated costs and the resulting return on investment (How will money spent translate into money saved?); photo galleries of the installation process (How will this affect the appearance of my home?); breaking industry news (What is the current buzz?); and online/live chat opportunities and social forums, which allow potential customers to ask questions and solicit feedback on concerns in an anonymous, casual setting.

Implement Customer Portal Software & Solutions

Leveraging social networking opportunities and fostering online relationships within the current client base should be a high priority for renewable energy companies. Existing customers — typically passionate about the product — can be a valuable resource in engaging new clients. Creating a “members only” area on the website provides a forum where existing clients can pose questions to each other and the company, access timely educational information and learn about current company incentives for referrals.

Allow Customers to Monitor for Success

A key component to understanding the value of renewable energy is being able to monitor personal usage. When solar, for example, is installed on a home, a monitoring device is also put in place. By integrating this information into usable software, customers can easily access their usage on the company website or on their Smartphone. This allows customers to always have ‘hands-on” access to the performance and functionality of their purchase, and the information can easily be shared, which helps to further share the company message to other potential customers.

Interest in renewable energy is high and will only increase. Through effective online communication, renewable energy companies can help demystify the process of “going green” and gain informed customers in the process.

Jeremy LaDuque is president and CEO of Elements Inc., creator of ElementsGreen, a software platform developed specifically for renewable energy companies and the unique challenges and opportunities they encounter in the sales process. Current ElementsGreen clients include REC Solar, Akeena Solar, Andalay, Underground Energy, Absolute Solar and Solar Technologies. For more information on the company, visit www.elementsinc.net.

Driving Leads Through Mobile Internet Technology: The importance of adding “mobile” to the marketing mix

Posted on September 15, 2009 by Jeremy LaDuque

This article was published in Franchising World Magazine in August 2009. http://www.franchise.org/Franchise-Industry-News-Detail.aspx?id=47280

In a world where technology has infiltrated the very fabric of our social culture, consumers have evolved to be human spam filters, adept at tuning out the constant messaging coming in from TV and banner ads, billboards, email newsletters and the like. With marketers now realizing that the age-old premise, “if you display it, they will see it,” may no longer be viable, the current buzz throughout board rooms, marketing forums and coffee houses is whether or not Mobile Internet Marketing is the next effective and practical progression in the marketing mix.

As companies question the effectiveness of traditional “outbound” marketing initiatives like broadcast and billboard advertisements, which push a message out far and wide, hoping that it resonates with a few individuals, they’re putting more emphasis on “inbound” marketing strategies that organically attract potential and already interested customers through search engines, blogs and social media. This has spurred franchises to take a closer look at making their messaging more local. Franchisors have moved from national level marketing, to regional, and local, by way of localizing online presence for every franchisee, and are now faced with Mobile Internet Marketing and wondering where it fits and what benefits it offers.

The shift from traditional marketing efforts to inbound, permission-based initiatives has also created the requirement that communication with potential customers become more personal. Addressing people by their first names and narrowing the message to focus specifically on what a potential customer has “signed up for” is replacing more impersonal, mass messages.

Mobile Internet Marketing offers the next wave of inbound, localized, personalized marketing by providing a more intimate, targeted, and increasingly proximity-aware method of reaching consumers.

And Mobile Internet Marketing is here now.

Are you ready for the burgeoning mobile world?

The mobile phone is unique in that it’s a convergent device that brings together voice, Internet and technology all in one place. Its very nature is that it’s always on, always with you, intimately aware of your favorite content and music, and always connected to your network of friends. Marketers will soon be able to leverage its location-based technology, as well.

According to Nielson Mobile, we’ve reached “critical mass” in the mobile world, with 40 million people in the United States categorized as ‘”active” mobile users. Even more, 144 million of the total 254 million mobile subscribers have data on their mobile phone, which allows them to use text messaging and access the Web.

This mobile phone penetration can be startling when you realize that in the U.S., there are more mobile devices than TVs and personal computers (PCs) combined.

And even more interesting is the information on who’s using them. Despite the belief that the mobile world is made up primarily of young people, Nielson’s data shows that 11.8% of mobile users are between the ages of 18-24; 27.4% are 25-34; and a staggering 37% are 35-54.

In addition, recent data compiled by M:Metrics shows that the world has surpassed the 3 billion mark on mobile phones, making brand marketers now fixated on this “third screen” (PC, TV and now phone) and curious about the marketing opportunities best suited for this new medium.

Before delving into opportunities available to franchise marketers for appealing to new markets, crossing cultural barriers and satisfying current customers through the mobile phone, let’s explore exactly what Mobile Internet Marketing is.

What is Mobile Internet Marketing?

Mobile marketing begins with the mobile web, which refers to browser-based web services such as the World Wide Web or Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) using a mobile device such as a cell phone, PDA, or other portable gadget connected to a public network.

Although newer mobile devices use standard browsers (one you would use on a PC), a WAP browser on a mobile device provides all of the basic services of a PC-based browser, only simplified to operate within the restrictions – such as the smaller view screen – of a mobile phone. WAP web sites are also written in a special language so that a WAP browser can access it. Both of these browsers are being used by people surfing the Net on their phones.

In addition to browsing the Internet, people are also text messaging. According to the CTIA – the International Association for the Wireless Telecommunications Industry, more than 110 billion texts were sent every month in 2008, for a total of over 1 trillion text messages for the year.

Also known as a Short Message Service (SMS), text messaging can be used in several ways by marketers. When you “push” a text message out, you are sending a marketing message, such as a coupon or a client communiqué, directly to a potential customer, much like Expedia sends flight status updates via SMS. You can also create a “pull” message by communicating with someone who has actively engaged with a traditional marketing message. TV programs like American Idol have made this a popular marketing approach by running contests that require voting via a mobile phone. In this model, the initial message is conveyed through TV, radio or billboard advertisements and creates a call to action to text a code to a certain number.

When discussing Mobile Internet Marketing, one cannot leave out the almighty iPhone. The iPhone has revolutionized downloadable applications – software programs you can choose to download to your iPhone that perform some action, similar to a program on your PC. The “App Store” for iPhone applications touts 50,000 programs, which have been downloaded one billion times. Applications include everything from games like Tetris to productivity tools to Loopt, which allows users to connect with friends by seeing where they are at all times.

Palm and Blackberry have also come out with respective application stores for their mobile devices.

The key factors of Mobile Internet Marketing

Some fear that Mobile Internet Marketing will result in the mobile inbox becoming just as cluttered as the email inbox. However, the highly permission-based quality of mobile marketing makes it more relevant and targeted than any other marketing method, including email. It’s also believed that psychologically, consumers are more apt to “trust” mobile marketing because of the intimate nature and connectedness one has with their phone.

In addition to the relevance mobile marketing offers to potential consumers, immediacy based on location, or presence-based marketing, adds to its effectiveness. If the Holy Grail of marketing is reaching the “right customer with the right message at the right time,” then mobile marketing may have found it.

The ability for marketers to provide timely messages has already arrived. Take a pizza franchise, for example, that can text you a coupon code to order a Pizza at 5 p.m., just as you’re driving home from work. And for franchises that target the college audience, services such as eCampusCash may be appropriate, as they offer a multitude of coupons that they will text to potential customers’ phones. Customers then simply show the text to the business to use the coupon. And although it’s not here quite yet, text messages based on a customer’s location that pop up regarding a business they’re interested in when they’re in proximity, are indeed coming.

Another key factor to Mobile Internet Marketing is how social media ties in. Social media sites like Facebook and MySpace can now be updated on the go with mobile devices. And considering the mobile phone is one’s “constant companion,” it has become as integral to social media marketing as the Web itself.

How to use Mobile Internet Marketing

First, make sure your website is “viewable” to the mobile world. Your current website may not be as user-friendly on a mobile phone as it is on a PC. You should speak to your web developer to make sure your website is properly optimized for viewing on mobile phones. Some Content Management Software (CMS), like ElementsLocal™, allows you to update your own company and local franchisee websites, making it easy to revise for both the PC and mobile phone. Further, software like ElementsLocal even offers features that allow users to send text messages to their mobile phones from a company website, making it easier for a potential customer to continue browsing your business’ website, even as they move from their PC to their mobile phone.

You should also consider whether your company even shows up in the mobile world. Having a presence in Google and Yahoo on a PC does not necessarily mean you’ll show up on a mobile device. For starters, people can access your business’ location in a multitude of ways on a mobile phone, from browsing the Internet and texting Google your business name to using an iPhone application that is designed for a specific use. The common element is ensuring you’re listed not only in search engines like Google and Yahoo, but also local search engines like Google Maps and online directories like the local online Yellow pages. These directories are used by major companies to attain your address and contact information.

Once your company is “in” the mobile revolution, customer service can be dramatically improved. Again, using the example of Expedia texting you your flight status, take into account the possibilities of updating a potential customer with timely details about your company that they may find critical while they’re on the go. Always Best Care, an in-home senior care service franchise, is working on sending text message updates to clients’ loved ones with pertinent information about appointments. In the future, this service will also allow family members to pinpoint a client’s location via GPS using mobile technology.
Messages like this can go beyond just customer notifications and into marketing messages. The immediacy of Mobile Marketing can greatly benefit customer loyalty and VIP programs. Think about a hair salon franchise that during slow periods sends out a text message offering a discount for customers who show up in the next hour.

Advertising dollars continue to move to mobile phones, as well. EMarketer forecasts that advertisers will spend $3.3 billion on mobile advertising in 2013, up from $648 million in 2008, while Experian Marketing Services predicts that mobile advertising, including mobile search, social networks and location-specific services, will become a more viable marketing strategy as consumers continue to adopt smart phone technology.

If nothing else, consider this. Think about the web firm that convinced you almost a decade ago to start building your email lists to stay ahead of the game. Call it déjà-vu or just good planning, but it’s critical to start building your text message list now. As a consumer initially responds to a campaign by sending a text message, a marketer also captures his or her cell phone number. This valuable information, given by the consumer with permission, can then be used for future marketing campaigns.

The Conclusion on Mobile Internet Marketing

As franchises continue to strive to improve communications with customers and create brand awareness in an increasingly technological world, it’s hard to ignore the benefits of mobile marketing. Any brand that ignores mobile technology could be losing potential customers to competitors who are leveraging the technology and, more importantly, missing an opportunity to take the next step in creating a local marketing presence both on the Web and the mobile phone.

In conclusion, Mobile Internet Marketing does need to be a part of your brand’s overall marketing plan, and it should rank in priority with your corporate website, local websites, social networking and email messaging strategies.

Mobile Internet Marketing can’t be ignored as a viable solution to keep your company on the forefront of leveraging technology to improve brand awareness, extend product and/or service offerings and, most importantly, provide greater value and service to your customers.
Jeremy LaDuque is the President and CEO of Elements Inc., developers of ElementsLocal™, a software solution for localized websites designed specifically for franchises. He can be reached at (805) 547-1160 or jladuque@elementsinc.net.

Latest Survey Results: What Are Franchises Saying About Local Leads

Posted on July 20, 2009 by Jeremy LaDuque

Elements, in partnership with a leading online survey company, has just completed an extensive mail and online survey of United States Franchisee locations, on behalf of franchisors who want to know more.

After extensive analysis it became increasingly clear that franchisees believe the local independent competitors are significantly beating them at obtaining on line leads. The graphic below shows that over 75% of the respondents feel that local independents are doing a better job.

77% Local Independents are dominating Local Market

13% Franchisees lack budget or time

10% Franchisees lack expertise

Local competitors can be better positioned because of many reasons. Chief among these reasons is the fact that Google can now discern when a franchisee is really a micro site on a corporate web site. Some forward looking franchisors are actually creating brand controlled, fully autonomous web sites for their franchisees.

With a fully autonomous site (meaning it has it’s own domain name) Franchisees obtain a much higher Google ranking and significantly increase leads. These entrepreneurial companies are harnessing the power of the ‘network effect’ and combined power of their franchisees through cross links and local content to not only increase leads for their franchisees but to also increase leads for future franchise sales.

Reasons Local Competitors Win:

· Google Knows They are Local

o Independent URLs

o Contains Local Content

· Shoppers Feel They Are Buying Local

Solutions:

· Allow Franchisees to add local content

· Create Corporate Controlled Autonomous web sites

· Cross-link all Franchisees and Corporate sites

Results:

· Higher Search Ranking

· Lower Pay per Click Costs

· Increased Leads/Sales

· Happier Franchisees

Jeremy LaDuque is the president and CEO of Elements Inc., an interactive web agency that assists businesses in solving critical challenges through forward-thinking implementation of web strategies and business solutions. Elements is the creator of ElementsLocal, an innovative software solution for franchises that helps increase company leads by maximizing search engine results. For more information on ElementsLocal, visit www.elementslocal.com and take the Tour. For additional tips from Jeremy or to set up an interview, editorial media can contact Jordan at On the Horizon Communications at (805) 773-1000 or jordan@thepressroom.com.

10 Ways to Improve Lead Generation and Close More Sales

Posted on February 25, 2009 by Jeremy LaDuque

The International Franchise Association’s (IFA) Annual Convention in San Diego, CA offered a wide variety of very relevant roundtable discussions to attendees. ELEMENTS Inc.’s executive team, Jeremy LaDuque (CEO), Michael Boyer (CMO) and Steve Bridge (CFO), participated in six of them covering topics such as lead generation, online marketing and optimizing follow-up on online leads.

Immediate follow through is one of the most powerful things franchisors said will help generate more leads and create more closed sales from those leads.

1. 24-Hour follow up

The number one most effective strategy is to follow up with in 24 hours of the initial contact with your potential client. Statistics show that the success of following up on a lead increases by 70 percent if you follow up within this critical time. The consensus at the Internet Marketing Roundtable showed that immediate follow up is the most effective way to guarantee positive results from internet leads.

2. Automate your response to customers

Use an auto-responder program. This program or function is usually offered by your email provider and sends an automated response when a specific email address receives an email., You may already use this for an automated reply when you’re on vacation. However, you can employ the same automated response system with your sales force. When a potential client emails sales@yourfranchise.com, they receive an automatic response thanking them for their inquiry. This provides your client with immediate assurance that you are interested in their business and will contact them soon.

3. Use a drip campaign

By putting together a drip campaign, your franchise will send out emails on a predetermined schedule automatically. For example, you may send out an email every two weeks for several months. Your email topics would provide your target audience with more in-depth information about your franchise; then a customer testimonial; followed with news or an update on your products, its use or your community participation. There are several great reasons for a drip campaign:

You keep your name fresh with your users, prospects and clients
You proactively provide news and updates to your users
Your target audience continually sees that good things are happening with your company.

One franchise owner said that he has used drip campaigns for many years and swears by them. He referred to recently closing a deal with a client who had submitted an inquiry on their website four years ago!

4. Spend time on those that matter

In order to use your time efficiently, invest in some type of sales automation software to qualify leads from the internet. Automating the first few steps to qualify prospects is key. For example, if your automated reply asks a question or prompts the user for more information and they respond, you can qualify that person as a more serious prospect than someone who does not follow up with you.

5. Think like a buyer, not a seller

One of the main issues discussed throughout the IFA convention was that marketers typically think as sellers of their products and services. The consensus solution was by thinking creatively, sales and marketing need to think as buyers of their products and services. This manifests itself in many ways. One primary example is focusing on your benefits instead of your features.

6. Social Media

Social Media…one of the hottest topics everywhere. We discussed obvious heavyweights such as Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn and concepts like blogging (with WordPress or BlogSpot, for example) and micro-blogging with Twitter. Taking the time to participate in this huge and growing phenomenon seems to be universally beneficial, both for your website and for business. Ideas about social media include

Starting or investing time in your Linked In profile to connect with others
Starting a corporate Facebook account; creating a Myspace account.
Upload videos about your company story, or client testimonials to You Tube.

By doing this you can provide links to these rich and engaging videos in your auto-responders and create drip campaigns from any social media sites. And most importantly was to provide links to your social media and networking accounts on your website, email and any other forms of electronic communications.

7. Start your own blog

One of the easiest ways to get involved with social media that seemed to be prevalent amongst franchises was blogging. There are many services that will allow you to create your own blog. An even easier way to participate without maintaining your own blog is to comment on other blogs and include links back to your site.

8. Per Click Advertising

Pay per click (PPC) advertising is an Internet Marketing strategy that everyone has obviously been using for several years now. The advantages are that you can control it, measure your return and track everything. However, as more and more people use PPC it gets more competitive, thus more costly. The most frequently asked question was ‘how do we continue to use PPC and get the most return from this strategy?’ We had the opportunity to discuss how to optimize marketing dollars with a few franchises and suggested a simple but more effective way of devising pay per click terms.

First, use what are called ‘geographic’ and ‘long tail’ terms. Start with geographic terms. For example, ‘closets san diego.’ This will cost less than ‘closets california’ or ‘closets new york’. Then, as geographic terms become more competitive start to look for ‘long tail’ terms. A long tail term is one that takes advantage of the 80/20 rule. This rule suggests that 80 percent of people look at 20 percent of search terms. This leaves 80 percent of search terms available and the other 20 percent searching them. Another way of putting this is to devise longer keyword phrases, like ‘closest installers san diego’ because they cost less. Research also suggests that the more people think about the terms they type in the more serious they are about buying and not just shopping.

9. Use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to the fullest

Research shows that over 70 percent of people on search engines such as Google will chose an organic listing, or one that shows up naturally, that’s not listed under ‘sponsored links’ over paid-for links in the sponsored areas. So, logically getting your website ranked organically using SEO techniques is one of the best methods of online marketing. The challenge most franchises face is understanding SEO is laborious and confusing and often they don’t know where to turn for help. Our ElementsLocal software provides our clients with a solution that helps them take full advantage of natural SEO. Let us know if we can provide you with SEO services.

10. And always track

The saying is ‘you can’t manage what you don’t measure.’ You can rinse and repeat what is working, what’s not and what’s getting you the best return on investment (ROI) if you track your online marketing. There are many different, yet effective, methods of tracking their online marketing. Solutions ranged from: Google Analytics, custom in-house solutions, fully outsourced solution providers who deliver reporting monthly and systems that leverage off-the-shelf software like SalesForce.com.

Use these techniques to boost your marketing campaigns and online marketing strategies. All marketing programs take time and effort, but your work will be rewarded when you can measure that investment and see a return. Employing even a few of these strategies should help decrease your costs and increase your success.

In today’s internet world, there are great online tools, what are your favorites?

Posted on August 7, 2008 by Brandon

As an interactive marketing agency, we are always trying to find new ways to save time, provide better quality, or to check in on the ‘Jonses’ and see what they are offering their customers

Widgets

This first tool is a customer service dream. It’s called ‘Jing‘ and essentially, it allows you to take quick pics and videos of your screen and then share it with other people. If you’ve created an image, Jing will allow you to use some general tools to make the image more lively, such as an arrow or text box.

What’s even cooler, is that this tool comes with a very useful feature, a free account at Screencast.com when you give Jing a try. Once you have uploaded your image or video to Screencast, it auto-generates a link for you to send to someone else who can now view your newly created image or video. Screencast even auto-generates embed code…WOW!

Check out this image I created.

And here is a video I created.

For more info, go to techsmith.com, a great company with great ideas.

Lets move onto some real fun. I play a little game here at the office. It’s called, ‘Copy-Mac.’ The rules of the game are simple:
1. Listen to the cool features Mac users say they have that PCs do not.
2. Find a PC tool that copies those features exactly.
3. Show them…

One feature many Mac users love, is the tile-window feature. I have recently come across a tool that lets me continue to play this game. The tool is called ‘Admiral’ created by Mexircus and it’s not only useful, it’s fun to use, especially if you are like me and have tons of windows open at any given time.

Compare: here is the PC view with Admiral; and below that is the Mac version,

PC View:

Mac View:

These are just a couple of tools that I have found to be fun and useful.

Photo Sharing

Flickr – almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world – has two main goals:
1. We want to help people make their content available to the people who matter to them.

Flickr is the WD-40 that makes it easy to get photos or video from one person to another in whatever way they want.

2. We want to enable new ways of organizing photos and video.

Once you make the switch to digital, it is all too easy to get overwhelmed with the sheer number of photos you take or videos you shoot with that itchy trigger finger. Albums, the principal way people go about organizing things today, are great — until you get to 20 or 30 or 50 of them. They worked in the days of getting rolls of film developed, but the “album” metaphor is in desperate need of a Florida condo and full retirement.

In Flickr, you can give your friends, family, and other contacts permission to organize your stuff – not just to add comments, but also notes and tags. People like to ooh and ahh, laugh and cry, make wisecracks when sharing photos and videos. Why not give them the ability to do this when they look at them over the internet? And as all this info accretes as metadata, you can find things so much easier later on, since all this info is also searchable.

Others:

Webshots
Share your pictures through photo messages, online photo albums, custom prints and gifts. |

Snappages
Fully flash built interface with 3D slideshows and an image editor.

Fotki
Free unlimited photo hosting for blogs, 9 cent prints, and photo contests.

Shutterfly
Free unlimited storage, 12 cent prints, as well as calendars and photo books.

Contacts/Business Network

Linkedin – Your professional relationships are key to your professional success. Our mission is to help you be more effective in your daily work and open doors to opportunities using the professional relationships you already have.

LinkedIn is an online network of more than 25 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries.

Others:

BNI International Web Site
BNI – International Website … BNI is the largest business networking organization in the world. We offer members the opportunity to share ideas, …

Ryze business networking
Ryze Business Networking, make business connections, make new contacts and … The prospects of social networking sites that focus on business-oriented …

Project Management

Basecamp takes a fresh, novel approach to project collaboration. Projects don’t fail from a lack of charts, graphs, stats, or reports, they fail from a lack of clear communication. Basecamp solves this problem by providing tools tailored to improve the communication between people working together on a project.

Others:

AceProject.com
Ace Project PM Software website. Commercial.

EasyProjects.net
EasyProjects PM Software website. Commercial.

ProjectInsight.net
ProjectInsight PM software website. Commercial.

People Search

Spock is “Google,” but for people. I use Spock to find out more about other companies or people I interact with. If i know more about them, I can probably help them more effectively. Of course the most relevant use is to find old friends, collegues, or even your boss…

Others:

Wink
Search using the world’s largest people search engine. Find people by name and get their phone number, address, Websites, photos, work, school, more.

PeekYou
PeekYou’s free people search engine allows you to find, contact, and track anyone online. Find photos, links, work, school and family info and much more.

Video Sharing

YouTube
Hosts user-generated videos. Includes network and professional content.

Break.com
Hosts user-generated videos. Includes network and professional content.

Viddler
You need to be logged in to use this feature. If you don’t have a Viddler account, you can join Viddler right now. It’s easy and free! …

5min
Find the best how to, instructional and DIY videos.

The list could go on forever…

Widgets

Photo Sharing

Contacts/Business Network

Project Management

People Search

What are your Favorite online tools?