Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
Thought I would share a couple of quick email tidbits I had hanging around inside my head…
1) Constant Contact released email click through rates by category, for Feb 2010..pretty interesting stuff if you like numbers.
- Constant Contact Click Through Rates by Category
2) Fat Atom is now Sender Score Certified! After spending thousands of dollars and ONE year of hard work, we made it! What does all that really mean? Check back and I will tell in my next post. (www.returnpath.net if you can’t wait)
3) Subscibers who opt-out of permission email cite that these emails lack relevance (75%) or are sent to frequently (73%). Merkle “View from the Inbox” (2010)
4) The top three types of subject lines that compel subscribers to open emails contain one of the following: 1. Discount Offer 2. Free Product Offer 3. Familiar Brand Name - Marketing Sherpa “2010 Email Marketing Benchmark Report”
Tags: Email Marketing, Merkle, Return Path, Sender Score
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Thursday, January 7th, 2010
Todd’s 2010 Predictions
It’s easy to look back into 2009 and do a list or a review of the year’s biggest story, so I thought I would challenge myself and see if I could look into my “Google Crystal Ball” and share 9 predictions of what I see in store for 2010…Here Goes.
1) A new buzz word will replace “Web 2.0″ and will be used repeatedly by marketing people who really didn’t know what “Web 2.0″ was in the first place.
2) Google will develop a new product that will rock the world (of geeks) and change the way search is handled…but the masses won’t care.
3) Apple will release an update to the iphone which will make it the most polished interface on any phone on the planet….crap, that one already happened.
4) The stock market will go up, then down and possibly, back up again for a short period of time that will begin after it goes down for a period of time. Please feel free to use this prediction to help you time the markets in 2010.
5) Twitter will continue to grow, Myspace will continue to die and Facebook will thrive the most.
6) Tiger Woods will play golf again AND win a major in 2010. I mean really, what else does he have to do now that everyone knows he is a philanderer.
7) Hulu will surpass a major network television in viewers…..and no one will know it.
8 ) Another large, Indianapolis based company will attempt to perform a Social Media Marketing campaign on their own and in this attempt, will alienate their fans/followers because of a failed tactic, scheme or gimmick.
9) Fat Atom will move their offices to downtown Carmel say, 12 West Main Street and have a great open house in the Spring.
Tags: Fat Atom, Internet Marketing, Predictions for 2010
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Friday, December 4th, 2009
Seth Godin has an amazing post, yet again. He never ceases to amaze. In the past when an information medium was invented it was built by marketing. Advertising has supported every information medium since the inception of radio, newspapers, and television. When a specific medium was invented marketers asked the question. “How does this help me?” Seth Godin adds to this by saying: If a newspaper, a radio station or a TV station doesn’t please advertisers, it disappears. It exists to make you (the marketer) happy. The problem, nay the beauty, of the Internet is the fact the shameless advertising does not support this medium of communication. But (being a marketer myself) it begs the question, “How do I use this medium to help my business?” The question Seth Going asks, which business owners should ask themselves is this: “How are people (the people I need to reach, interact with and tell stories to) going to use this new power and how can I help them achieve their goals?” Help your clients first and you will reap the benefits of the amazing power of the Internet and social media.
Tags: Brandswag, Klye Lacy, Social Media, Web
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Friday, December 4th, 2009
While going through the hundreds of emails I get a day, a friend passed along a quick cartoon, illustrating the web design process with “the client from Hell”.
I post this for two reasons. First, so that professional web design companies can read it and commiserate. Secondly, to potential clients so they can try to understand what designer goes through when creating a website.
It’s Friday and I needed a good laugh, hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I did.
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/design_hell
Tags: Design, Web Design, Websites
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Sunday, November 29th, 2009
While reading the local paper last week, I ran across a great article on comparison shopping. The author detailed a scenario in which while shopping for a computer, the add-on’s they try to sell you, don’t seem to expensive because you are comparing them to the overall price of the computer purchase. We’ve all done this before, building a “super computer online” by getting that extra 8GB of RAM and every other option, then hitting delete, starting over or not buying at all because of the price.
I digress a bit to say that the author of this article happens to be the President of local “New Media” company. (they seem to be springing up all around now-a-days). They are the “cool” company that can produce nice websites, for 5 to 10 times above “market” prices.
So back to the story. The author closes by saying that in business, you always need a comparison to your proposal…not only that, but he says, and I quote, “Make sure your buyers are comparing you to more expensive options.” He goes on to say the “brain likes to compare” and contrast leads to easier decision making. While reading this, I remember saying to myself, who the heck do they bring in to “compare” with them….no one is higher priced!
And now you know my 2010 sales strategy 
Tags: New Media, Sales
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Monday, November 9th, 2009
I recently read an article on Biz Reports that quoted a survey by Razorfish. Razorfish surveyed 1,000 “connected consumers” those that use social media tools like Facebook and Twitter. They found that 44% of Twitter users and 33% of Facebook users use those mediums to keep up to date with promotions and discounts from select marketers.
The article goes on to talk some mumbo gumbo ad speak that makes all big agencies feel good, but I like to put things in laymens terms for the “common joe” to understand, so here goes. Big advertisers like Starbucks, Dell and Whole Foods have found a cheap (can you say FREE) way to keep people engaged with their brand. A cheap way (FREE) to distribute coupons and special offers. Better yet, they are distributing these to “connected” people. People who will tell other people how great they are.
If Social Media does become one big coupon book, watch out Newspaper, Magazine, Radio, TV and Direct Mail (to name a few). The old school push model of coupon distribution may just go the way of the VCR.
Tags: Couponing, Social Media Marketing
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Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
Search engine technology is moving too fast; no one can keep up! Yes it is, but the underlying componets to good SEO aren’t; mainly create interesting and authentic content on a well designed website. If you can do this, you will usually be ahead of 90% of all other businesses
Submitting your website to the search engines takes forever.
Search engines do a good job of indexing your site for you, so if you want to submit your site, just submit one page.
SEO is dangerous and can get my site removed from search engines. Our motto is, “You can’t fool Google”. Follow that mantra and you will be fine.
Keyword and description tags are the most important part of SEO. Yeah, in 2001 (see blog below) Authentic content and relevant links rule now.
I’ll see results from SEO quickly.
Yes and I have some great ocean front property to sell you (we are in Indiana). Create a plan, execute the plan, monitor and if your good, test the plan. You will see results, just not overnight.
* Article inspired by .net magazine issue 195
Tags: Search Engine Optimization, SEO
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Monday, September 28th, 2009
I run into small business owners everyday that want something great, for little costs, oh and by-the-way, I want you to do all the work as well. If this sounds like you, then please don’t read any further.
Ok, now that we have the small business owners who want to work hard, work smart and get something good, for just a little investment and planning, here goes:
1) Email Marketing - With so many online companies offering cost effective services, why aren’t you using email to help grow your business? For under $25 per month, you can mail promotionals, coupons etc to up to 5,000 of your opt in clients. And if the offer is good enough, watch out; that email will go viral.
2) Text Messaging - Why not add this component to your existing marketing to help judge what is working. For under .20 cents per message, you can market to people who are on the go. Collect phone numbers and use SMS like email - but more effective, after all, who doesn’t carry a cell phone 24/7 today?
3) Facebook Fan Page - Here is the real “no brainer” of the group, because it is FREE. C’mon; set up a page, come up with a 3 point strategy and execute it. It doesn’t have to be a 10 page plan, but do three things well and systematically on Facebook and the rewards could be great.
Tags: Email Marketing, facebook, SMS Messaging
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Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
The White House has now come out and said yes, SPAM was sent from our server, but it isn’t our fault, blaming the SPAM on people (or action groups) who went to the Government site and put people on the White House list without their permission. (see full story at: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/17/questions-remain-unsolicited-white-house-e-mails/)
What is really comes down to is, as I stated in my last post, the opt in/confirmation process. If the White House was using a reputable provider for their email services, like Fat Atom, they would know that there is a process to go through to verify the actual email address inputted was done by the email address owner. This isn’t rocket science, but it was overlooked by the administration and their current ESP.
A great lesson to learn the hard way!
Tags: Email Marketing, spam
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Monday, August 17th, 2009
and he isn’t even taking responsibility for it. The article is very interesting as I have been following this story from the beginning. It all started when a Fox news reporter questioned the White House Press Secretary last week on American citizens getting White House email that they did not ask for or sign up for.
Back and forth ensued and finally, this is what the White House states, “”We are implementing measures to make subscribing to e-mails clearer, including preventing advocacy organizations from signing people up to our lists without their permission when they deliver petition signatures and other messages on individuals’ behalf,”.
So basically they are blaming advocacy groups for putting people on the White House list. The President probably hasn’t heard the term “opt-in confirmation” before, but Fat Atom sure could help them.
Tags: Email Marketing, President Obama, spam
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