So much going on...

As summer draws to a close, I've noticed around the city more opportunities to spend money and blow away a weekend. Where were these places when I didn't mind slacking off on a Friday or slept my way through a Monday? Why do they have to wait to open when school starts or we decide to become responsible adults for the next few months (at least until Halloweeen)?

http://bourbonstreetbaltimore.com/

Tough Catching Up

It's tough monitoring my site, participating in social networking groups, staying on top of technology, and making sure I don't burn out my eyes! Still, things are progressing well in the world of SEO and my company. The new site has been launched for about a week and I'm preparing the analytics reports, hoping for good stats. Here's to continued monitoring, summer coming to an end, and opportunities all around.

Social Networking for the Common Good

What a great idea! Check out imtalkathon.com. It's a guy who has chosen to talk and IM for 30 days straight. What fun! Honestly, I have to give a high five to Microsoft for using these tools for a good cause. While I use quite a few IMing tools, I've now taken a second look at Windows Live Messager. Guess their tactics worked.

clipped from imtalkathon.com i’m is an initiative from Microsoft. Every time you use Windows Live Messenger or Windows Live Hotmail, Microsoft shares a portion of the program’s advertising revenue with an organization from a list of 10 important social causes. Join Now

Another Search Engine Tools

Today Yahoo launched Build you own Search Service (BOSS) to compete with Google Custom Search Engine. While both seem like great tools, I have to wonder if it's just too much. As a student and working professional, I am sometimes overwhelmed with the number of web sources, databases, and research tools out there. Is this neccessary? Can we rank tools based on usage? Guess I'll have to see what others are using based on other tools such as del.icio.us. Hmmm, how many more hours do I need to sit in front of the computer?

clipped from blog.searchenginewatch.com Yahoo is taking the next step in its "open" strategy with the launch today of BOSS: Build your Own Search Service. The BOSS program will allow third parties to build their own search engine using Yahoo's index and ranking methodologies as a base.

What do you get when you measure...

Does blogging or other social media efforts pay off in real dollars? The following is from a post Lewis Green wrote on the Daily Fix, the MarketingProfs blog, last week. He adds, "...the real ROI of blogging comes in different forms and the "R" in ROI doesn't always have to mean revenue." Lewis suggests that marketers ask whether such efforts:

• Create great customer experiences as measured by the happiness levels of our customers?
• Result in loyal clients?
• Result in revenues and/or profits?
• Result in leads and referrals?
• Result in getting us noticed?

clipped from mail.google.com "I am a stickler for marketing and sales results. Everything we do should be measured, including our social media and social networking efforts. If what we do doesn't return ROI, we should stop doing it."

Are we speaking to ourselves?

Every day you hear something about Web 2.0 or Social Networking tools and how companies or marketers should utilize them. You might even hear how great it is to use new media to reach your target market "where they live". But does your audience really want to hear from you in that method? Are they really going to respond to your Facebook postings or cell phone ads?

Check out the findings in ExactTarget's 2008 Channel Preference Survey. While many people use a variety of social media to communicate with friends, many prefer not to use these methods to be marketed to.

So when we use these avenues to market a service or product, is anyone actually listening to us? Ask first, why are we using blogs, TV, cell phone ads, or texts to reach our customers? Is it the best method? Or do we feel we need to jump onto that Social Networking train before it leaves the station and we're stranded?

Maybe we should reel-in our social networking marketing efforts and examine who we are really marketing to and why. Reduce the outreach to one outlet after deciding it's the best one for your product or service.

I'm just saying don’t get carried away or you might be speaking to an audience of one.

Teaching an old dog new tricks

I recently attended an Online Marketing seminar hosted by the Chesapeake Regional Tech Council. I was extremely impressed with the panelists, the discussions, and the tips they provided to help attendees (whether B2C or B2B) improve their Online Marketing efforts. However, when asked how many marketers were in the room, I noted only a few people (out of 70) raised their hands. Why? Were many of the companies without a marketer? Or did they think because it was being hosted by a technology group, that marketing didn't need to be there?

When Q&A's started, it was obvious that most of the questions weren't from marketers, but rather from non-marketing upper-level management. Questions such as how do I get started, what is SEO or SEM, how do I track stats, how can I make my site better without spending money? Such basic questions that I wondered how these people could "hold it" for so long during the discussion. Most of the other marketers in the room sat back, looking somewhat bored, hoping to either ask or hear a questions that really related to the session. Why were we focusing on the basics, when I wanted to hear more about what people have done that worked or didn't work? Where were all the marketers? Still in the office?

So I ask, can you really teach a "more experienced" manager (CEO, VP) with little to no marketing experience about Online Marketing including SEO, SEM, analytics, optimal site layout, or marketing copy? In many cases, no. Don't waste your or others time by trying to understand every facet of this field just because you own or run the company. Focus your efforts and time on that which grew your company: new business, improving customer relationships, employee retention. Let your marketer handle this end. That's why you hired them, right?

SEM methods change daily. It must be monitored by an experienced professional that understands what to take away from a new technological release; who understands whether or not Web 2.0 is right for YOUR company; who can tell you the difference between visits and unique visitors. Realize that Online Marketing is a field that deserves attention, time, and money. Spend some money on your marketing efforts. You'll be glad you did.

Again, the session wasn't Online Marketing 101 or SEM 101. But it did provide a lot of useful suggestions and resources for an experienced marketer to utilize once they returned to the office. At least, that's what I got out of it.

Dealing with the negatives

I think in any context of life, it is important to know how to respond to negativity with positive and constructive actions. Before I got married, my husband and I underwent premarital counseling which helped us to communicate better and fight fairly. I've actually used the lessons taught in those sessions in everyday life, my work atmosphere, and with personal relationships. Those lessons included: 1) think before you speak, 2) never approach a situation with your finger pointed ready to accuse, 3) listen, and 4) "I feel" not "you do". Today I found an interesting article that discusses how to talk to a negative employee and turn the situation into a positive. Enjoy!

"5 ways to turn negative employees positive"
http://pbp.typepad.com/nobull/2008/04/dealing-with-ne.html

Are we actually listening?

How many companies are actually listening to what their customers are saying? And why do i see so many respond in such an impersonal manner? Why are you asking for first-person feedback if the manner of your response is a cold, cookie-cutter response? Don't forget it's these people who took the time out to let you know what's on their mind (their personal space). You should at least be grateful and real in responding.

clipped from www.marketingprofs.com First-person feedback is not just personal. It is rich, honest, unprompted, unscripted, and often revealing. To do this, companies are staffing senior roles in the organization that focus on customers and report to the CEO, the VP of marketing or other top executive.

Tips for customer testimonials

I've been using this method for gathering testimonials for years but it depends on the industry you are reaching from and to. Not all customers are able to give a good testimony because the company hasn't done it in the past and aren't very good at probing. I plan on giving it another try over the next few months. We'll see how change goes...

clipped from www.evancarmichael.com I have my phone set up, so that I can record directly to my computer, using the Sound Recorder function. I use it for when I am doing consulting on the phone. This way I can produce a CD of suitable discussions, or develop transcripts. However it has another very powerful use and that is for recording testimonials. Once you have a recording, you can transcribe it and send it back to your client asking them to put it on letter head and to sign it. Alternatively you can put it as an audio track or as text on your web site. Another way to really boost the number of testimonials is to run a contest for your customers. Use the best testimonials to promote your business. Use them in direct mail, in your advertising, on your web site, arm your sales people with them.....use them anywhere you can

Looking back - memories by Jerry Kavanagh

To Jerry Kavanagh, April 17th is more than just a day in the spring month. It's a day that signified a life change and a travel back home. Jerry is former Marine and my husband’s grandfather. The following is an email he sent to his family about what April 17th means to him.

--Sixty-three years ago this day, 4/17/45, I received my honorable discharge from the Marine Corps. A small group of us were 'fell out' on the parade ground at Marine Base San Diego. A Corps bus took us to downtown, where we would have to find a way home. My travel allowance was $131. The lady Marine group sang the Marine Hymn as we boarded.

After stepping off the bus, everyone scattered to find his own means. I stood there, and for the first time in my life realized what it feels like to be an orphan. I missed the Corps more than the fact I was going home...for good; I had been assigned to Embassy duty in D.C.

Flying home was impossible; the 'brass' had top priority. Seabag on my shoulder I went to the train station.'Standing room only and that was filled.’Then to the Greyhound station; 'be here at 11 P.M. for boarding.' This was the longest day of my life. All those Navy whites, and Marine (and probably) Army khaki tans; and me in my winter greens; lonely is what I was. I didn't drink so no bar for me. I saw 2 movies, ate, and arrived early for 'the trip from hell'.

Due to the many spring floods, we traveled north, the south avoiding all. Finally, near midnight, April 23, 6 days in the saddle on the outskirts of Baltimore, I asked the driver if I could depart at Washington Blvd and Monroe Streets to catch a local bus to take me past my house. I wanted to get home before midnight for my only sister's birthday.

Good guy, but said he couldn't get to my seabag, but it would rest safely at the station down town and I could retrieve it later. I woke my family just before midnight for 'best wishes, Kathleen.'

Jerry K --

Marketing? Truly?

There are so many facets to marketing and as a department of one, it's overwhelming trying to incorporate new marketing tactics into a company with an old marketing mindset. No set budget, nothing to refer to, limited assistance, but a desire to do more and make it better. Listening to marketing podcasts, subscribing to blogs, RSS feeds, and social networking sites are great but how do I narrow down what's going to work for this company?

Catching up after a long break

Quite a few people I know have blogs and use them on a regular basis. I, on the other hand, find it hard to fit it into my daily activities. Granted, if I had a PDA or some other mobile communications device, I would be updating this site at a moment's notice. Still, I must come to grips with what I am able to accomplish and contribute, is good enough for me right now.

Nothing deep or inspiring to write. Just a thought for today.