Among the responses to our post about REI’s “personalized commercials” was a very thoughtful reply from Marc Cica, Director of Advancement for the Shenango Valley Catholic School System in Hermitage, PA. Cica pointed out that video can be an ideal communication tool for non-profit organizations. When it’s done well, video can be personal, motivational, even […]
It’s easy to define what content marketing* is: Using original content to acquire and retain customers. The steps a business owner needs to take to put a content marketing plan in place are also easy to describe: Know your audience, create your content, promote your content and build natural links. But how does a business […]
Endless information exists about how to best use the big social networks for your business – Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest, to name a few. While the right combination of these networks is essential to one’s online outreach, there are also smaller, niche networks that many businesses can benefit from, too, such as Digg and […]
Is it possible we scooped The New York Times? Well, not exactly. However, we must point out we’ve broached this subject before – and we also know from personal experience – when you’re searching for a local florist, you want a local florist. Unfortunately, a quick search online may not deliver what you’re after. Times […]
It’s been called the million-dollar question: How much is a like worth? While we admit we’d “like” to know, in fact, we suspect we already know – a like’s worth varies depending on the influence of the liker. And while the liker might not appear to “like” you much in terms of sales, at least […]
Was “do a better job managing social media” on your list of New Year’s Resolutions? How’s it going? If adding Pinterest to your social media mix is on your to-do list, you might enjoy reading about how journalists are using the very-visual tool. In case you still need to create a business presence on Pinterest, […]
If you’re in business, the holidays can be so hectic some important things get overlooked. We’d hate to start the New Year with an old lecture, so let’s just call this a friendly reminder about the value of customers. We’re sure you’ve seen quotes from legendary department store founder Marshall Field extolling the virtues of […]
We’re tempted to call it the Nate Silver effect: In the last few weeks a handful of industry watchers have suggested that what companies really need to succeed is a chief marketing technologist.It’s not a bad idea. Obviously, sales and marketing functions are increasingly dependent on technology. The technology choices available today are roughly double […]
You know what they say about the weather… In 2011, Google announced an initiative to give online authors credit for their content while also providing more search visibility for their business. The initiative, called Google Authorship, in essence associates your Google+ profile – adding a byline, photo and other relevant information – to your blog […]