On Tuesday, we sponsored a webinar entitled "Gain and Maintain the Competitive Edge with Social Media Optimization." Over 350 business owners registered and attended the event making it a huge success! Thanks to everyone who participated.
If you were unable to join us, you can view a recorded version of the presentation online.
As a follow up, we highly recommend reading our white paper "Time is of the essence: Gaining and Maintaining a Competitive Advantage with Social Media." It includes a ton of great facts, figures and information such as this:
68% of adults visit blogs, social networks and online communities
47% said those sites had a direct impact on their purchasing decision
42% say the frequency of their visits to such sites has risen in the last six months
34% say they use social media sites to conduct product research
26% changed their minds about a product or service after reading information in social media
Contact WSI if you are interested in learning more about Social Media Optimization.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Webinar Tomorrow: Social Media Optimization
There is a lot of buzz about Social Media and how this marketing strategy can be used to effectively increase awareness of your products and/or services. Many companies are confused as to where to start -asking themselves- how do I use a forum or a blog and other elements of multimedia to reach my audience? There is lot more to it!
The webinar will focus specifically on what is the right marketing mix and how large, medium and small sized businesses can use this marketing strategy to significantly increase revenues in this economy and specifically "Uncovering the myths" about Social Media.
How Your Business Can Gain & Maintain the
Competitive Edge with Social Media Optimization
Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Time: 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm EST
Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/381340994
You can click on the link and register with your first and last name and email address. You would also be required to enter my name, BETH BONANNO, to complete the registration. You will then receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
The webinar will focus specifically on what is the right marketing mix and how large, medium and small sized businesses can use this marketing strategy to significantly increase revenues in this economy and specifically "Uncovering the myths" about Social Media.
How Your Business Can Gain & Maintain the
Competitive Edge with Social Media Optimization
Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Time: 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm EST
Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/381340994
You can click on the link and register with your first and last name and email address. You would also be required to enter my name, BETH BONANNO, to complete the registration. You will then receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
How Do You Get Your Linkedin Profile to 100%?
70%. That was the pathetic, salty profile completion rate that mocked me from my Linkedin account for months. I could NOT figure it out. I had created my basic profile, input my job and educational background, added some groups and gathered a few recommendations. Still, that 70% lingered. Today was the day I decided … enough is enough.
How do you get your Linkedin profile to 100%?
1. Make sure that you add in all of your job positions; or at a minimum, your current position and the two you held previously. This will significantly enhance your completion rate, as well as help you gain access to groups related to those organizations that you otherwise would not be able to participate in. NOTE: For those of us who are still relatively new to the workforce, this could be a disadvantage. However, consider adding in college internships – this will greatly benefit you.
2. Complete your educational background as best you can. Linkedin only allows you input higher education, which is a bit of a bummer (again for the younger professional). However, as long as you input something you should be good to go.
3. Input a profile summary that briefly highlights what you do for a living so people get to know you. This should be written not only to enhance the SEO of your profile, but to make sure that humans can read and understand it. Also, take the time every couple of months to update your summary. Your business changes … so should your Linkedin profile.
4. Show the world your hot self. Consider adding in your picture so people know what you look like. I know this can be a scary thought for some – but for those of us that were on the front-end of Facebook or MySpace… not including your picture makes you a “shady character.” So, find your most professional mug and update your profile! You will be amazed at how many people will recognize you from your Linkedin profile when they finally meet you in person. TIP: The size of the image Linkedin uses in your profile is 80 px by 80 px. If you want to keep the clarity of your image crisp, create one that size and then upload it.
5. Share your talents and let everyone know what your specialties are; this can be as simple as including what your company focuses on. You can also choose to highlight the areas that interest you most. This information goes right below your profile summary. So, be sure to include what is most important.
6. Get recommendations from at least three individuals within your network. You can obtain these from colleagues, clients, past professors, etc. Then… return the favor. People will be much more willing to draft a recommendation for you if they know they are getting something in return :) Surprise!
So why is it important to complete your Linkedin profile. “Users with complete profiles are 40 times more likely to receive opportunities through Linkedin” – Linkedin. That’s that.
To view my now perfect Linkedin profile, please visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/bethbonanno - and be sure to add me to your network!
How do you get your Linkedin profile to 100%?
1. Make sure that you add in all of your job positions; or at a minimum, your current position and the two you held previously. This will significantly enhance your completion rate, as well as help you gain access to groups related to those organizations that you otherwise would not be able to participate in. NOTE: For those of us who are still relatively new to the workforce, this could be a disadvantage. However, consider adding in college internships – this will greatly benefit you.
2. Complete your educational background as best you can. Linkedin only allows you input higher education, which is a bit of a bummer (again for the younger professional). However, as long as you input something you should be good to go.
3. Input a profile summary that briefly highlights what you do for a living so people get to know you. This should be written not only to enhance the SEO of your profile, but to make sure that humans can read and understand it. Also, take the time every couple of months to update your summary. Your business changes … so should your Linkedin profile.
4. Show the world your hot self. Consider adding in your picture so people know what you look like. I know this can be a scary thought for some – but for those of us that were on the front-end of Facebook or MySpace… not including your picture makes you a “shady character.” So, find your most professional mug and update your profile! You will be amazed at how many people will recognize you from your Linkedin profile when they finally meet you in person. TIP: The size of the image Linkedin uses in your profile is 80 px by 80 px. If you want to keep the clarity of your image crisp, create one that size and then upload it.
5. Share your talents and let everyone know what your specialties are; this can be as simple as including what your company focuses on. You can also choose to highlight the areas that interest you most. This information goes right below your profile summary. So, be sure to include what is most important.
6. Get recommendations from at least three individuals within your network. You can obtain these from colleagues, clients, past professors, etc. Then… return the favor. People will be much more willing to draft a recommendation for you if they know they are getting something in return :) Surprise!
So why is it important to complete your Linkedin profile. “Users with complete profiles are 40 times more likely to receive opportunities through Linkedin” – Linkedin. That’s that.
To view my now perfect Linkedin profile, please visit http://www.linkedin.com/in/bethbonanno - and be sure to add me to your network!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Free Google Webinar: Spring Into Action
As a company offering paid search marketing, we often receive updates and event information from Google. Below is an invite for an upcoming webinar hosted by the search engine giant.
Title: Spring Into Action - Online Marketing Tips for Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Graduation
Host: Google
Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009
When: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm EST, 10:00 - 11:00 am PST
Presenters: Eric Lopez & Julia Tang, the Google Retail Marketing Team
Description: During this webinar, they will discuss: 1.) Key retail trends around the spring gift giving season. 2.) Marketing tactics and trends to adapt to changing consumer behavior in 2009 and 3.) Building and optimizing effective Mother's Day, Father's Day, and graduation campaigns.
Register: Click here to register for Google's Spring Into Action Webinar.
Title: Spring Into Action - Online Marketing Tips for Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Graduation
Host: Google
Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2009
When: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm EST, 10:00 - 11:00 am PST
Presenters: Eric Lopez & Julia Tang, the Google Retail Marketing Team
Description: During this webinar, they will discuss: 1.) Key retail trends around the spring gift giving season. 2.) Marketing tactics and trends to adapt to changing consumer behavior in 2009 and 3.) Building and optimizing effective Mother's Day, Father's Day, and graduation campaigns.
Register: Click here to register for Google's Spring Into Action Webinar.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Time for the Do Not Direct-Mail List?
Is the end of direct-mail marketing near? Probably not... but that's not to say it isn't taking a serious beating these days.
Although there may always be a need for direct mail advertising, 2008 stats show it is definitely not as popular as it was once. (COUGH - Not a surprise for those of us involved in Internet Marketing.) Direct-mail spending dropped 3% in 2008; costs fell from $58.4 billion in 2007 to $56.7 billion in 2008. That number is expected plummet even further in 2009 to 51.8 billion (9%).
So, what's the cause of this? The long and short of it is that companies are shifting precious funds to "lower-volume, more targeted and higher-value campaigns." Examples of this in the direct-marketing arena are e-mail and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) - both of which we're seeing a lot of these days at WSI. If that doesn't satisfy you... blame it on the poor economy, rising postage rates and a cut back in "junk-mail" by banks and credit card companies.
More can be found on the AdvertisingAge in Direct-Mail Spending Down in 2008 and Still Falling.
Sources:
1. A Channel in Transformation: Vertical Marketing Trends in Direct Mail 2009, published by the Winterberry Group.
2. Direct Mail Drop, published by eMarketer.com.
Although there may always be a need for direct mail advertising, 2008 stats show it is definitely not as popular as it was once. (COUGH - Not a surprise for those of us involved in Internet Marketing.) Direct-mail spending dropped 3% in 2008; costs fell from $58.4 billion in 2007 to $56.7 billion in 2008. That number is expected plummet even further in 2009 to 51.8 billion (9%).
So, what's the cause of this? The long and short of it is that companies are shifting precious funds to "lower-volume, more targeted and higher-value campaigns." Examples of this in the direct-marketing arena are e-mail and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) - both of which we're seeing a lot of these days at WSI. If that doesn't satisfy you... blame it on the poor economy, rising postage rates and a cut back in "junk-mail" by banks and credit card companies.
More can be found on the AdvertisingAge in Direct-Mail Spending Down in 2008 and Still Falling.
Sources:
1. A Channel in Transformation: Vertical Marketing Trends in Direct Mail 2009, published by the Winterberry Group.
2. Direct Mail Drop, published by eMarketer.com.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Doctors & Online Reviews
Having just sat down with a client in the healthcare industry seeking advice on utilizing social media tools, I found this article particularly interesting:
Doctors seek gag orders to stop patients' online reviews - by Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press
In the new "Web 2.0 era," brand management should be an essential part of every company's online strategy. Responding to forums, blog comments, user reviews and more is critical to ensuring there is a healthy balance between negative and positive online opinions. As this article mentions, even doctors are being forced to recognize the power of social media with sites such as RateMDs.com.
Personally, I'm not sure exactly where I stand on the issue... but having patients sign a waiver agreement that says they won't post online comments about a doctor seems pretty extreme to me. Something about that just doesn't settle well with me. Maybe it's because I know how beneficial social media can be in regards to the dialog it creates. But, who said doctors really want to hear what their patients think?
Doctors seek gag orders to stop patients' online reviews - by Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press
In the new "Web 2.0 era," brand management should be an essential part of every company's online strategy. Responding to forums, blog comments, user reviews and more is critical to ensuring there is a healthy balance between negative and positive online opinions. As this article mentions, even doctors are being forced to recognize the power of social media with sites such as RateMDs.com.
Personally, I'm not sure exactly where I stand on the issue... but having patients sign a waiver agreement that says they won't post online comments about a doctor seems pretty extreme to me. Something about that just doesn't settle well with me. Maybe it's because I know how beneficial social media can be in regards to the dialog it creates. But, who said doctors really want to hear what their patients think?
Monday, March 2, 2009
Free Web 2.0 Website Tools
While one of our staff members, Justin, was looking for Web 2.0 focused websites he stumbled upon Go2Web20.net. The site is a directory of Web 2.0 websites and what they do.
As I was looking through the list of sites, the following caught my eye as fun and free website tools:
- Website.Grader.com - This free seo tool grades your website using factors such as SEO, traffic, social population and more. It also provides basic tips on improving the marketing power of a site.
- Tynt.com - Tynt's product, Tracer beta, allows you to see what content gets cut and copied most from your site. It also adds an attribution link to mark the content as yours.
- Stimator.com - This was sort of fun... but I still don't understand how they get this. Basically, it puts a dollar number on the value of your website just by inputting your URL. Today, it says our website here is worth $2,813. (I'm going to check back in on this from time to time and see how much it fluctuates since the number is based on the financial market.)
- ClickMeter.com - This website will allow you to track the click throughs on a website. You enter your URL into the site, generate a piece of code, install it and you're on your way.
There are TON more sites on Go2Web20.net... the above are just a few I found interesting. Thanks Justin!
As I was looking through the list of sites, the following caught my eye as fun and free website tools:
- Website.Grader.com - This free seo tool grades your website using factors such as SEO, traffic, social population and more. It also provides basic tips on improving the marketing power of a site.
- Tynt.com - Tynt's product, Tracer beta, allows you to see what content gets cut and copied most from your site. It also adds an attribution link to mark the content as yours.
- Stimator.com - This was sort of fun... but I still don't understand how they get this. Basically, it puts a dollar number on the value of your website just by inputting your URL. Today, it says our website here is worth $2,813. (I'm going to check back in on this from time to time and see how much it fluctuates since the number is based on the financial market.)
- ClickMeter.com - This website will allow you to track the click throughs on a website. You enter your URL into the site, generate a piece of code, install it and you're on your way.
There are TON more sites on Go2Web20.net... the above are just a few I found interesting. Thanks Justin!
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