PLAYING IN TRAFFIC

GETTING THE HANG OF THIS LINKEDIN THING

As you know I recently started a Facebook page.  It’s an interesting diversion but in the single week that I’ve had it up, several friends that I haven’t talked to in years have contacted me via my page (wanting to be “friends”) and I’m sure it will lead to a kindling of our dormant relationships.

But I digress.

The thing that I’m finally seeing some value in is my LinkedIn profile.

I’ve been dutifully adding business associates and colleagues from my near and distant past but it wasn’t until yesterday that I had an “A-Ha!” moment.

I’m working on putting together an interactive webinar for a client of mine and I was looking for some software solution recommendations.

Using the contact feature on LinkedIn I was able to blast out an email to all 89 people in my LinkenIn profile and before you know it, the helpful suggestions began to pour in.

As several people began to recommend the same software solution (www.gotomeeting.com) I figured the “Group” had spoken.  An isolated recommendation here or there is one thing, but when the power of the group begins to respond, well, it’s pretty powerful when the same name begins to pop up repeatedly.

 Sort of like my own, personal Wikopedia. 

Well, maybe not.

But having this powerful ability to reach out to 89 business professionals who know me in some capacity is pretty cool stuff.  And it’s certainly something I would not want to abuse or take advantage of. 

But who better to ask a business-related question of?

Anyway, now I’m sold.  The power of the Network, baby!

Posted in Networking, Smart Business | No Comments »

STARTED A FACEBOOK PAGE

I decided to see what all the fuss was about regarding FACEBOOK.  So I set up my own page figuring I’d see what’s what from the inside out.

I like all the cool widgets you can use to post photos, videos and all kinds of Web 2.0 things.  I even signed up for the NetworkingOpportunities.biz Group which allows me to cross publish articles and increase my online exposure.  What I’m hoping is to use it to generate additional traffic to my website and business from Facebook people who come across my page.

The other thing I liked was the ability to post my blog postings very easily on the page so I can use Facebook to help drive traffic to all my blogs and web properties, too.  I use FEEDBURNER to distribute all my blog feeds and Feedburner contains a Facebook widget that seamlessly posts anything from my blog to the Facebook page.  Cool.  I’ll let you know how it goes as I get more comfortable with the toolset.

Posted in Marketing, Networking, Continuing Education | No Comments »

SAMSON MEDIA TO SPEAK AT SUPER ZOO

Samson Media is pleased to announce its acceptance of an invitation to speak at the upcoming SuperZoo 2008 pet industry trade show in Las Vegas.  Gene Sower, owner of Samson Media will provide two educational sessions on how the Internet can help pet retailers put their marketing efforts into overdrive.

SESSION INFO:

MAKE MORE MONEY ONLINE

The days of passive Yellow Page ads and newspaper advertising are over. Intrusion marketing, shot gun approaches to lead generation and other hit or miss approaches are dead. Learn how search engine optimization techniques, combined with email marketing and Internet marketing videos, can provide a powerful and trackable marketing mix that will give pet retailers control over their marketing dollars. These are all techniques that retailers can use to target only relevant customers who are looking for what they have to sell. No more scatter shot approaches. Internet marketing allows for a laser-focused approach that is completely quantifiable, permission-based, and in many cases a one-time cost that, once in place, continues to generate leads for months and even years at a time.

About SuperZoo

SuperZoo 2008 features nearly 1,000 industry exhibitors – both established leaders and newcomers – demonstrating the latest products and innovations available in the pet industry. SuperZoo University encompasses educational seminars and panel discussions aimed at preparing you for emerging trends and business success.

During the 3 day event in September, the pet industry will pause to meet, learn and invest in their success at SuperZoo – The National Show for successful Pet Retailers.This year’s event returns to Las Vegas, an ever-changing city that is constantly investing in its success. Similarly, the pet industry is reinventing itself by offering consumers more ways to care for, enjoy and engage in the pet relationships. Your opportunity to invest in your success begins with discovering innovative products, enhancing your knowledge of animal wellness and developing strategies for a successful future. SuperZoo ‘08 features nearly 1,000 industry exhibitors – both established leaders and newcomers – demonstrating the latest products and innovations available in the pet industry. SuperZoo University encompasses educational seminars and panel discussions aimed at preparing you for emerging trends and business success. Whether your business involves retailing, grooming, or professional pet care, SuperZoo 08 gives you the framework you need to invest in your success.

Posted in Marketing, Continuing Education | No Comments »

NEW CRIB WORLD SITE LAUNCHED

Crib World of Morris Plains, NJ, commissioned Samson Media, LLC to create an entirely new website that emphasized the main areas of their business:  Baby furniture, Glider Rockers, Kids furniture, Kid’s Gear, and Beds.

To attract search engines to these product areas, we optimized the site to attract search engine traffic to these specific keyword phrases.

Since the site just launched in mid-July, there has not been enough activity to draw any conclusions yet from the Google Analytics installed on the site.  Google Analytics will allow the us and the client, over time, to see the keywords used to reach their site, what pages were viewed the most and for how long, and to track where all their traffic comes from (direct, search engines, referral links from other sites, etc.).

Another gauge of the site’s impact on in-store sales was the addition of a $25 Internet-only coupon which can be redeemed only within the store at time of purchase.

Posted in SEO, Website Design, Keyword optimization | No Comments »

THE POWER OF INTERNET MARKETING VIDEO

Since Google announced the purchase of YouTube in late 2006, there has been an acceleration in the relevancy of online video in the marketing equation.

What does that mean?

It means that more and more video clips are showing up in the search engine results of Goggle as well as the other search engines like Yahoo and MSN (the only three search engines that matter, in my opinion).

The thing that makes video an extremely cost effectice marketing tool is the wealth of free hosting sites.  Not a day goes by where I don’t read about another video portal falling over itself to offer me free hosting.

That means that if you have a sales or marketing video, or even a commercial, you can post the video for free on a variety of free hosting sites, or even just You Tube, if you want to keep things simple, and…get this…you can KEYWORD the video so it gets returned in the search engine results.

So imagine having a commercial or sales video that gets watched after someone searches for it?!  Understand the difference?  Instead of throwing your marketing message at people who have no interest in what you’re selling or buying a TV commercial that gets increasingly fast forwarded by DVRs, you have a video that’s returning iteslf in search engine results by people who are actually looking for what you have to offer. 

Quite a different dynamic, eh?

TIPS TO GETTING WATCHED

But not any piece of keyworded shlock is going to get watched.  Relevancy is still important.  Maybe even more so than traditional media.  To that end, I suggest the following approach to getting your messages in front of eager eyeballs who will not only search you out, but actually watch and consume your message:

Make a “How-To” video with a compelling call to action at the end (click, email, download, stop in, call).

If you’re a pet sitter, make a video on “How To Choose a Pet Sitter”. 

Investment consultant?  “3 Tips on How NOT To Outlive Your Money”.

Funeral Home director? “How to Plan a Living Funeral”.

You get the idea.

People search the Internet for information.

Be the answer to someone’s question and they’ll not only find you when doing a search, but chances are they’ll buy from you as well.

Find complete info about our Internet marketing service here.

Posted in SEO, Marketing, Sales, Video | No Comments »

11 MEDIA LAUNCHES NEW REALITY VIDEO SITE

When the reality TV moguls at 11 MEDIA, LLC, needed a way to attract search engine traffic to their huge library of video clips, Internet marketing firm, Samson Media, of Montclair, New Jersey, created a highly keyword optimized website to attract more than their fair share of search engine traffic to help them sell licenses to their repository of exciting dashcam, surveillance and amateur videos.

The site also includes several demo clips as well as dozens of sample images of the vast library available for licensing.

Posted in Website Design | No Comments »

NEW BASEBALL WEBSITE TAKES THE FIELD

When the Joe Wladyka Baseball Camp wanted to switch their business model from mailing hundreds of baseball scouting DVDs each year to a 100% web-based solution, we created an entirely video-based website that allows high school players and college recruiters to login and access player evaluations and view scouting videos from hundreds of players.

We also set up dozens of payment links for the 50 or so scouting camps that the company offers accross the country.

 A family owned business for over 30-years, the move to an entirely web-based system was quite a departure for the company but was the vision of Jim Wladyka, the son of founder Joe Wladyka.

In addition to creating password protected areas for players as well as coaches, the site will contain hundreds of player evaluation videos along with the player’s GPA, SAT scores, batting average and over 50 other measurable stats and attributes.

 Players can also enroll and pay online instead of filling out forms and mailing checks.

Coaches, after registering for the site will be able to login and search for players by position, righty, lefty, GPA and lots more.

Posted in Website Design | No Comments »

HOW TO BE A FRUGAL MILLIONAIRE

When Brenda Hendrickson, author of How To Be A Frugal Millionaire, wanted help marketing her new book, Samson Media created an 8-part email autoresponder series to help put her email marketing efforts on auto pilot.

Using iContact as our preferred email marketing tool (services like Constant Contact do NOT offer autoresponder features) we developed, wrote and installed this powerful email list building technique on her existing website.

Offering the free 8-Part series has become one cornerstone of Brenda’s marketing efforts for the book which uses the 8-part series to softly upsell her book to interested readers while simultaneously building trust and credibility.

As I’ve stated in previous blog posts , all email programs are NOT created equal.  The ability to send out a series of automated, timed emails is NOT available in popular email programs like Constant Contact.  These autoresponder features offer a very cost effective way to create a “set it and forget it” lead generation strategy that will build your list of opt-in email prospects even while you’re sleeping.

If you’d like to sample this permission based “give to get” marketing strategy for yourself, sign up for Brenda’s 8-part series on her website HERE.

And don’t worry:  As with any type of reputable email marketing program of this kind, you can opt-out and stop receiving messages at any time.

Posted in Marketing, Sales | No Comments »

NORTH ESSEX CHAMBER DEBUTS NEW WEBSITE

 ADDED FUNCTIONALITY HELPS CHAMBER COMMUNICATE WITH MEMBERS

Samson Media completed the design and programming of the North Essex Chamber website in May of 2008 and after several weeks of troubleshooting, training and testing, the site went live.

New features and capabilities of the site include:

• Searchable member database

• Banner ad display system

• Interactive calendar

• Content management system that allows the easy addition of unlimited new pages

• Ability to accept online payments for new members and renewals

• News and information areas

“The site was built on the Wordpress open source code platform (the same as this blog) to allow for easy content management and the ability to easily manage content internally,” explained Gene Sower, the designer of the site.  “There’s a lot of functionality paddling beneath the surface.”

The site also has Google Analytics installed throughout the site so the NECC can track traffic to the site and analize keywords used to find them.

Posted in Website Design, North Essex Chamber of Commerce | No Comments »

NEW VIDEO LEAD GENERATION SERVICE LAUNCHED

Samson Media, LLC, is launching a new landing page lead generation service designed to send super-targeted leads to businesses who are looking to improve their ROI on advertising expenditures.

The new lead generation program will combine the purchase of targeted Google Adwords that lead prospects to a video landing page.

After watching a 30 - 90-second piece of pursuasive, direct response video, the viewer will be given a single call to action:  fill out an online form for additional information.

“We’re asking the prospect to perform three specific actions AFTER they search for a particular product or service”, explains Samson Media president, Gene Sower.  “We’re asking them to click an ad, watch a video and fill out a form.  This will definietly weed out the tire-kickers from the more serious prospects.”

For additional information about the program you can click here to watch a video demo explaining how the program works.

Posted in SEO, Marketing, Keyword optimization, Sales | No Comments »