Mediaboss Marketing

It is very important that all who get involved with Internet marketing does not anything that they will later regret. This is especially true when you're just getting started and you may feel desperate to cut corners in an effort to start making money as quickly as possible. Needless to say, there are a lot of gray zones as a related to different tactics and strategies that you can employ within your Internet marketing business. You really need to be careful that you do not anything that may seem like a good idea initially but that you may later regret as a result of the fact that it brings shame and scorn to your business endeavors.

Many experts actively recommend that you have someone who you talk to before you implement ideas. The reason why this makes sense is because it gives you an opportunity to get a second opinion before you go out and do something that you may not need to be sure about. This is not to suggest that you need to get somebody else's permission to test new ideas to try new strategies. However, they can extremely help you make more intelligent decisions that are both profitable and that will keep you out of trouble.

In the final analysis, you really need to make sure that you're focused on activities that generate profits for your business. You just need to make sure that you are not doing anything that may run afoul of rules or regulations that are designed to keep the playing field fair and even for everyone.

Source by Steve Brite

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Internet Marketing Insights Do Not Do Anything You Will Regret Later - JOSIC - Digital Intelligence

Internet Marketing Executing versus Reacting So, what is reactive Internet Marketing? Well, as with the Internet, there is no single answer, but there are a series of key indicators that may determine if you are reacting or executing. The "New Marketing" has all those great buzz words such as blogs, wikis, website optimizing, and social networks. What power meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner hey it may be a long day) would be complete without those dreaded questions, "Do you blog?" Egypt "How is your social networking life?" As if they really care. The ability to reach a customer has become more fragmented now than at any time in the past. Reaching the right customer is the challenge, and this becomes more complex due to the multitude of media options compounded by the multitude of options within each media, which may explain why so many companies lose their focus. Then along comes a friend or a sales rep, or one-in-the-same with a solution to help you leap frog your competition, jump into the 21st century, and get jiggy, so you can find those targeted customers. In many cases, the solution may not be clear, but the buzz about success stories has you believing that although you may not understand it, hey you should do it. Are you executing or reacting? Blogs: I know more companies that jumped on the blog bandwagon because it was the "thing to do." Okay, it is easy to write what you think, post it on your site, and do this as often as you can, BUT

There are numerous stories of individuals getting a bit behind in their blogging, so as not to be a bad blogger they start to fill in their blog with public relations messages, customer testimonials, or upcoming events or sales.

You will lose respect from your readers if you do not blog 'correctly'. Blogging is for ideas, opinions, concepts, and opinions, not to promote your product. The customer is very savvy and if they are on the Internet looking at your blog, they know what to expect, so do not insul them.

A company designs a blog concept that includes a customer response section. A plan is developed to determine who from the company will post to the blog (ex. CEO, CFO, CMO, Technical personnel, etc.). Lastly, there should be someone monitoring the process to ensure that there are timely blogs being posted, and that the goal to draw readers to the blog and to engage the customer to create a dialogue via blog responses is being met. If not, then change your focus and energy to work on things that are working for you now and do not waste valuable time. You can always return to the idea at a later time.

Websites: With all the tools that are available to buy a website domain name, then buy the hosting services on the Internet, and finally build a website in minutes, it is no wonder that the value of what is present on a website has more form Than function. In addition, there seems to be a new website technology popping up every day, and these new technologies are always looking for a website so they can test out their solution, and the perceived leap frog begins.

How many websites are technically 'cool'? The website has all the latest tools such as RSS, podcasts, streaming video, flash, and 360 viewing.

Are you engaging and retaining valued customers? Are you drawing in new customers? Is the website the alter ego of the company? Does it reflect the business beliefs, brand values, and customer requirements? Does your website reflect the values and image that you are presenting in other mediums? If your response to the questions is no, then you are reacting to external pressures and not following your business and marketing plan.

The value of your website is not in how cool it looks, but it does reflect your values as a business, or how you want your products to be viewed, and will it retain existing customers while attracting new customers. Will it drive top line exposure and bottom line revenues? Many of the new tools are not search engine compatible, so what you see is not what the computer driven search engines see. One of the goals of a website it to provide 24 X 7 visibility, to submit your products and band in a manner that the search engines can catalog the information and return it as a search result when potential customers are searching for services and products.

Are you engaging and retaining valued customers? Are you drawing in new customers? Do not build in the latest tools just because they are available. Stop, Think, Act, and Develop the website that reflects the business's values, the brand and product information in the manner that your store and sales representatives are presenting it.

Social Networks: Joining a new social network has become as easy as

1) Open your email, 2) Read a message from an acquaintance, friend, family member, or long lost business associate, and 3) Click on the invitation link. I belong to so many social networks that I had to create a word document to keep track of the social network urls, the email address I signed up to use for that social network as I have multiple email addresses, the password that popped into my head On the day I joined, and most of all who asked me to join. So, where is the reactive problem?

Well, companies seem to have become consciously comfortable with social networks, so they affords them more leeway with respect to how this fit into their overall marketing plan than maybe they should afford them. Thus, companies are more apt to run a program that uses a social network as the link to 'their targeted' customer, but in the end they are not sure what the true result was.

If you work a social network to attract customers, then you need to ensure that your website is ready to accept them. Is the page you are directing them to ready to receive them and does it project the image that you want? Do you have other measurements set up to track traffic to the designated sections and pages as well as to other sections of the site? If you are pondering your response, then maybe you are not ready for this marketing tool and you are reacting.

You have investigated the demographics and psychographics of the social network, you have done a detailed review of the both the message you will post on the social network site as well as the message on the corresponding website pages that you will drive them to, and lastly You have set up a baseline across your website to track traffic numbers to the designated pages, to other pages, overall traffic during and for a designated period after the program has run.

The need to plan out your efforts does not get less critical because the Internet is just a click away. The need to develop a plan and to do a walkthrough of all the touch-points in the process becomes even more critical to ensure that you go out with your best effort.

A business can be a fragile ecosystem that needs to be nourished at all times. The need to develop a marketing plan that encompasses not only tactical programs, but also includes the development of an overall business message that captures the vision, values, and customer requirements is an invaluable element to be used as a review point for every 'opportunity' That is presented. The common thread to reacting versus executing Internet Marketing is that for those that are reacting, they are not following or they are ignoring their Internet Marketing plan. You only have one chance to make a good impression not only count for a person-to-person interaction, it also includes your website, which is your business alter ego.

August 2008. Luxury Experience Company. All rights reserved.

Source by Edward Nesta

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Internet Marketing Executing Versus Reacting - JOSIC - Digital Intelligence

Ping Newland Communities Briar Chapel website for more information, and youll be asked to fill out a My Perfect Home questionnaire on family formation, when you plan to move, what type of community you want to live in, and price range. Visiting the information center in person? Youll get an iPad with the same innocuous form.

While our internet marketing is outwardly geared toward getting prospects to visit the information center, were also completing registration forms and beginning to collect and analyze shopping and purchasing data across the customer life cycle, says TabithaSpencer, marketing manager for San Diegobased Newland Communities.

Since deploying Marketo marketing automation software in 2016, Newland has been engaged in a data collection effort via customer surveys and web analytic programs, tracking age ranges, geographic location, income, and home and lifestyle interests. Complementing Marketo is a MatchPoint audience management system that provides predictive analytics on prospect behavior based on data profiles. The investment has paid off in sales, landing Briar Chapel and four other Newland developments on RCLCOs 2016 list of top-selling MPCs.

Newland isnt alone in its approach to web 2.0 marketing and the effort to sustain a digital purchasing journey while collecting contextual customer data along the way. Texasbased Republic Property Group (RPG)which already lays claim to two of the top 25 top-selling national MPCswill look to migrate Google and Facebook analytics to customer relationship management software and some proprietary marketing automation system as it begins the construction and sale of homes at Walsh Ranch.

We want to know what people interact with, who they are, and what kind of information works to combine a buying and learning experience, says RPG director of marketing and sales Travis Selcer. The statistics dont lie98% of home buyers search online and lets face it, its really 100% because its easiest and most cost effective way to compare properties. Its our job to leverage the internet with tools to refine focus and capture interest.

Data is also now helping to inform social media campaigns for MPC developers. At Briar Chapel, 50% of shoppers are on the younger side of the 25 to 44 demographic, and 61% of buyers end up being millennials. Were evolving into an Instagram and Pinterestfirst strategy ... because Facebook has about a 50/50 split of millennials to active adult, whereas Instagram is more like 70/30.

Not that social media has become easy. Sterling Ranch in Colorado advertises on Facebook and Twitter, and ramps up on Snapchat and Instagram when blocks of for-sales open up. Social is a constantly evolving channel, says Sterling Ranch chief technology officer Brock Smethills. Who would have thought a 72-year-old man would be the first person to realize how to leverage Twitter in an election campaign?

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Builders Mine Customer Relationship Managment Tools for Buyer Insights - Builder Magazine

Across Michigan and the nation, small townsare on the chopping block.

Small downtowns with mom-and-pop shops must do or die, say retail experts, or they'll be swamped by arising tide of internet sales, along with killing competition from flashy malls, Big Box stores and superstores like Walmart.

Except that one burg is defying the death knell:South Lyon, a town of about 12,000 people in southwest Oakland County.Since the Great Recession of 2008-12, South Lyon has made a come-back and then some.

On Tuesday, Mayor John Galeas Jr. and City Manager Lynne Ladner didnt just cut a ribbon for one or two new stores. They scissored through a blue ribbonstretched right across their downtowns main artery, Lake Street, blocking traffic just long enough to mark what they called a grand opening for, well, the whole quaint little downtown.

"We've had 17 businesses either open or expand significantly in the last year," Ladner said.

And South Lyon isn't alone. Selected olderdowntownsin many locations are bouncing back, reinventing themselveswhile some of the nation's most familiar retail names like Kmart, Sports Authority andBorders Books have either gone bankrupt or seem headed that way.

"It's very nice to see the pendulum swinging our way," said Jerry Dettloff, executive director of the Michigan Downtown Association,a statewide group that promotes traditional shopping districts from Allen Park to Zeeland.

"If you look at age groups, the millennials are looking for places to hang out, and the slightly older people with families want the experience of being together," Dettloff said.Since the Great Recession waned, new businesses as well as apartments and condos have popped up in numerous small downtowns -- from some of Detroit's close-in suburbs toex-urban spots reaching north and west as far asMichigan's summer colonies, he said.

"But it doesn't just happen. You need somebody -- a person, a group, an organization -- that supports your existing businesses and recruits the right kind of new ones, the kind that will do well," Dettloff said.

In Macomb county, "we're seeing this happening in quite a few locations," said Jon Paul Rea, Macomb County Director of Planning and Economic Development.

Private investment in Utica, boosted by state-issued brownfield tax credits, turned an old landfill into a $15-million minor league ball field, unleashing a small storm of new bars, restaurants and ice cream spots; and, closer to Detroit, St. Clair Shores continues to leverage its nautical theme with plans to increase public access to its waterfront while incentivizing new restaurants and condominium construction tied to the business district's lakefront location, Rea said.

In Wayne County, a big success story is Grosse Pointe Park's linear downtown on Kercheval, where empty storefronts, a vacant gas station and nearly defunct church have become a bakery, chic restaurant and microbrewery -- respectively.

ForSouth Lyon, it was no easy task to take on theswarm of Big Box stores beckoning a quick freeway spin west in Brighton, andNovis glittering 12 Oaks Mall 15miles to the east, not to mention the siren call of internet marketers from every computer screen and smart phone, South LyonCity Councilwoman Maggie Kurtzweil said.

"I'll tell you, three years ago this downtown was a dust bowl. Our vacancy rate was high," Kurtzweil said. Reviving the shopping district fell toBob Donohue, the city's economic development director, who also heads themerchant-driven Downtown Development Authority.

Donohue --on the job for just a year and in a new position for the city, after two decades overseeingdowntown redevelopment for Oakland County --said South Lyon's downtown has grabbed onto"the three key ingredients for success -- place, products and personal service."

Those elements can work in any commercialdistrict, but they especially allow an aging onetoleverageits assets. That means restoring vintage buildings and creating a pedestrian-friendly setting for a special feeling of small-town "place"; encouraging a mix of unique retailers and services, with few or no chain outlets, to offer unusual products and brands that can't be found at, say, a mall or Big Box;and providing training forentrepreneurs about giving "absolutely unmatched, over-the-top customer service," Donohue said.

Oh, and by the way, it doesn't hurt to haveconvenient parking --which in South Lyon, is free, right on the street. A big part of the evolution of downtowns is acknowledging that Americans do have many options for shopping but they can't eat out or try new cocktails on the internet. That's led numerous downtowns of all sizes to welcome bars, restaurants and nightclubs -- to excess, Donohue said.

"I think some communities are beginning to see it's a mistake to overload on bars and restaurants" because doing that drives up lease rates and can make a downtown nothing but a pricey dining destination, vulnerable to economic downturns, he said.

"A well-managed downtown should have a mix" of dining, bars, retailers and services, "but that said, we need one or two upscale restaurants here in South Lyon --and I'm looking," Donohue said with a chuckle. A boutique-sized eaterycould tuck nicely into any one of South Lyon's beautifully restored, circa-1900 storefronts.

After this week's ribbon cutting, Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner craned his neck at the downtown's movie-set aura and couldn't help but cheer lead.

"You certainly can't experience this feeling on Amazon," Meisner said.

Contact Bill Laitner: blaitner@freepress.com

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Think small: older downtown areas in small communities urged to steer development toward smaller retail stores - Detroit Free Press

Storytelling is now an essential part of internet marketing. Internet marketing campaigns no longer focus on pop-up ads and hard-sell content. Today, internet marketing is more about building relationships with an audience. One of the most effective ways of doing this is through stories, especially stories that the public can relate to on a personal level.

Why you need to start blogging

As the founder and CEO of your business, you have plenty of first-hand stories to share. The products youre offering customers today started life as a simple idea. The journey towards turning those ideas into the products customers can touch and interact with is worth telling.

Blogging as a CEO also personifies the brand. Larger companies are already doing this as part of their marketing campaigns. We instantly think of Steve Jobs (and now Tim Cook) whenever we read news about Apple. Jack Dorsey, Mark Zuckerberg, and other top names in tech are all associated with their businesses, and vice versa.

The more people know about the face behind the brand, the easier it will be for them to connect with the brand. The experiences you share are capable of creating stronger bonds and attracting more potential customers. Converting that audience into customers will be so much easier when you already have a strong relationship.

Its easy to get started

Starting a blog as a CEO or founder of a business is easier than you think. Your business already has a website or even a blog section where you share valuable content the audience love to read so all you have to do is write your stories.

You don't even have to do the writing yourself. Some services can help you produce great, compelling blog posts based on your experiences. You still have to provide an outline and other details about the post, but the actual writing is done by professionals with years of experience.

Taking it a step further

Posting stories is just one part of the equation. For this internet marketing approach to work beautifully, you need to invest a bit more time into connecting with your audience. Social media, another great internet marketing instrument to use, is perfect for this purpose.

You can also invest in SEO. You want your stories to reach the right audience, and search engines are where most users find information. Programs such as the OMG Machines SEO program will help you get up to speed in no time at all.

Last but not least, you need to invest in consistency. Content marketing and storytelling and of course internet marketing in general is never a one-time thing. You can't build relationships overnight. Keep sharing your insights, engage your audience through social media, and take advantage of other internet marketing tools to actually develop a strong image, both for the brand and yourself as the founder.

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Blogging as a business owner: How to get started - Bizcommunity.com