Social Media Marketing, SEO, Analytics & Technology Blog

BLOGS

Sonic Boom in Los Angeles From Space Shuttle Discovery | WOW!

September 11, 2009

I’ve heard sonic booms, have shot guns, saw things explode (building implosions) and, after all I’ve seen, today’s sonic boom from the space shuttle Discovery almost made me change my pants. No, just kidding, it wasn’t that bad, but it did startle everyone quite a bit. At close to 6PM today, I was relaxing with a few friends at the Coffee Bean, which is located next to the Farmer’s Market and The Grove in Los Angeles. We were having a conversation about the economy and all of the sudden two large bangs went off. Being that it’s 9-11 and all, I think many people had their guard up, and this freaked them out especially. Everyone immediately, and I guess you can say understandably, started looking to the sky. The friends I was with (a few doctors, a judge, a real estate broker, and a couple others) seemed to not be startled at all; they took a very nonchalant approach. Though I myself wasn’t scared, I did feel a bit uneasy.

Website Design | What to Look for in a Website Designer

September 7, 2009

Nowadays, in all reality, a company’s website is truly one of the most important aspects of the business. A unique, representative website to promote online exposure has become paired with success. In fact, not having a website, or some sort of web presence, sucks credibility from a business, thus turning customers away. When looking for a website designer, my thoughts are: do it once, and do it right. Thoroughly brainstorm all aspects of the desired website including flow, color scheme, menu location, content, plans for the future, etc. Research and thought is the key to success along with finding the right website designer.

Marketing Rant | Advertising Material Up To Par, Or Don’t Play Ball

September 3, 2009

Advertising is one of the few aspects of a business that needs to really, and I mean really, be impeccable. There is no cutting corners, saving a buck, and settling for less. If you can’t go big, go home. Over the years, I’ve run across many clients that allocate just enough money to reserve an ad slot (television or print), but do not factor in the cost of graphic design or video production. At the last minute, there is a mad dash to collect additional funds so the advertisement will come out halfway decent. This is not the proper way to plan a marketing campaign and such should be calculated far in advance.

Marketing Rant | I’m Sick + Tired of Bus Stop Ads

September 3, 2009

As the title says, I’ve come to the conclusion that bus stop advertisements, namely the ones that appear on the rear of benches, are truly a joke, especially in populated cities. Really, what’s the point? More than 90% of the time people are sitting at the bus stop; their bodies cutting off the punch line of a cheesy ad. For the other 10% of the time, the ad isn’t visible due to graffiti, urban mobile homes (shopping carts), etc. This is the sad reality. I sit here now, recollecting cloudy days gone by, and I think to myself: when has a bus stop advertisement ever caught my attention? The answer — NEVER.

Why is Search Engine Optimization Important for Car Dealerships?

September 2, 2009

Good ole’ search engine optimization, you gotta love it! Well, if you actually understand how it works that is. Search engine optimization is the act of optimization websites and content to improve “organic” or “natural” search result placement. When a website appears on the first page of search listings, it is far more likely to be clicked on. Increased impressions leads to more clicks and — ultimately — more profit. The goal of SEO is to sidestep costly Google AdWords campaigns that charge per click or per thousand impressions, to eliminate environmentally unfriendly print ads, to demolish overpriced television advertisements, all while building a stronger online brand and increasing sales at the same time. For car dealerships, search engine optimization is an excellent marketing medium that should not, and I repeat should not, be ignored. The average joe purchases a new vehicle every 4-6 years, which is very infrequent compared to groceries, clothing, electronics and other more commonly purchased goods. When beginning to look for a car, most customers will have no clue where to start, and do not have dealership branding in their psyche as they haven’t visited a dealership in over 4 years. This is not something they (people buying cars) do often. This is an important thing to remember.

WOW! Scary Video + Photos of Fires in the Foothills of Northern Los Angeles

September 1, 2009

Scary photos and videos, oh my! Last night, just around sunset, I decided to go on the roof a snap photos of the sunset. To my surprise, I had a very good view of the fires in the Los Angeles hills. I could see large flames shooting in the air. Scary — it looks so close. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, a whopping 121,000 square acres have already been scorched and property damage is, so far, estimated at $14 million. Luckily, the Mount Wilson observatory and communications equipment (antennas for phone companies, emergency services, etc.) remains unharmed.

Realtor Marketing: Why is SEO The Best Marketing Medium?

August 30, 2009

With a plethora of marketing mediums available, realtors are often faced with a difficult question: What is the best and most cost-effective way to market their business/listings? Well folks, search engine optimization it is! Search engine optimization for realtors is a timeless, functional, and very cost-effective marketing medium. SEO focuses on organic search results and placing websites/listings on the first page of such results, which provides more exposure, increased traffic, and most importantly — increased sales.

Cost-Effective Ways to Market Your Small Business Using the Internet

August 27, 2009

For all of you small business owners out there, the times are tough and you need to do everything you can to save a dime and increase profits. Now is the time to re-think your marketing efforts and make a real change. I’m not talking about jumping out of bed and being semi-inspired to work on marketing because you read this article, or had a tasty glass of fresh squeezed orange juice then had a marketing epiphany. You need to be truly inspired. This is not a walk in the park. One of the most effective and most cost-efficient forms of promotion is, by all means, internet marketing. The internet is not only a portal to contact your customers, but also a genie in a bottle that will help you fully understand your customer’s wants and needs. Google analytics and other website/keyword tracking tools provide webmasters with invaluable information on what pages are viewed by visitors, how long they’re on a site, how they found the site, and much much more.