Who’s talking about you?
Find out who is saying what about you on the Web with these 26 free tools called out by Internet marketing expert Andy Beal. Andy is co-author of Radically Transparent: Monitoring and Managing Reputations Online
Buzz Monitoring: 26 Free Tools You Must Have
Be sure to read the post comments for additional resources.
Let’s give them something to talk about
Is it true that all you need is a handful of influential people to get a good buzz going about your idea, a la Malcolm Gladwell?
Social network theorists wanted to know.
Duncan J. Watts of Columbia University and Peter Sheridan Dodds of the University of Vermont in Burlington put the notion to the test. The results are extremely interesting:
More important than the influencers, the researchers found, were the influenced. Once an idea spread to a critical mass of easily influenced individuals, it took hold and continued to spread to other easily influenced individuals. In some networks, it was far easier to get an idea established this way than in others. The entire structure of the network mattered, not just the few influential people.
Dodds compares the spread of ideas to the spread of a forest fire. When a fire turns into a conflagration, no one says that it was because the spark that began it was so potent. “If it had been raining,” Dodds says, “that same match wouldn’t have had an effect.” Instead, a fire takes off because of the properties of the larger forest environment: the dryness, the density, the wind, the temperature.
The upshot of the study, Dodds says, is that “in the end, you don’t have control over how people spread your message.” The best way to increase the odds of person-to-person transmission of an idea is to make it a good idea and to give it “social worth,” he says. “Some things are just fun to talk about.”
I love both the ending and the beginning of each year. These are times when top experts give some of their best advice, such as this article from Rob Garner, 22 Considerations for Improving Natural Search Performance.
Working to improve your Web site’s natural search performance (versus paid search performance) takes a lot of time, but it’s well worth the effort for attracting your target market.
(The article is a post on MediaPost’s Search Insider blog, which I highly recommend. However, I can’t help but notice that post URLs are not optimized for search. Hmm.)
I like the Online Spin blog, where you’ll find Controversy Served Fresh Daily. Written by several top online advertising pros, you can count on getting an earful. And, of course, you have the chance to chime in.
I receive several e-newsletters every day from a variety of sources that cover online media, advertising and marketing. There’s a lot of hype, hope and hysteria going on now, and I find myself spinning out from all the differing opinions and reports.
It boils down to this: No one has a crystal ball. No one is omniscient. Nothing and everything is new under the sun. Guard your time, attention and wallet carefully 
I discovered Copyblogger today. Wow. If you’re interested in copywriting for online marketing, this blog by Brian Clark is a fabulous resource. Be sure to read The Best of Copyblogger in 2007.
Thanks goes to Andrew Daum of Riffs and Rants on Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness for pointing out Copyblogger. Andrew’s blog is another great find this morning. Too good to keep to myself!
I discovered Dr. Tom Sant and the Sant Corporation several years ago when I was heavily involved in proposal writing. Dr. Sant is a leader and innovator in the proposal writing field and the author of Persuasive Business Proposals. 
I highly recommend this book, as well as Sant’s amazing proposal generation software (ProposalMaster) that helps you create persuasive proposals. Working with Microsoft Word, the software guides you through a series of screens where you select relevant content to easily build your document.
Do you know the most important elements of an effective proposal? See if you can pick the top three from the following list:
- Accuracy of the content
- Addressing the customer’s needs and objectives
- Addressing the requirements of the RFP
- Case studies / success stories
- Clarity of the writing
- Completeness
- Compliance
- Conciseness
- Cost justification / ROI / Life cycle cost analysis
- Facilities section
- Graphics
- Management plan
- Pricing
- Prior experience
- Project plan
- References
- Resumes
- Technical innovation
- Technical plan
- Vendor’s history / capabilities / experience
According to Sant, the three that seem to matter the most are:
- Addressing the customer’s needs
- Addressing the requirements of the RFP
- Cost justification / ROI /Life cycle cost analysis
“People want to know that they’re getting what they need, that you’re going to deliver it in a way that conforms to their expectations and technical requirements and that will offer good business value. The other stuff? Background support. Substantiation. Sometimes a reason to eliminate a vendor. But ultimately not as important.” (from What Matters the Most in Winning, Sant’s Messages That Matter blog).
Learn more about the Sant Corporation
Be sure to sign up for their free e-newsletter. It always contains practical advice you can use immediately to write winning proposals.
Taking advantage of the power of video technology and one-on-one communication, Page Gravy is an innovative way to introduce products and services on a Web site — video ads using professional actors.
A video actor will “pop” into a company’s website to talk about whatever a client wants. And, it’s memorable. Studies indicate that people have better recall and retention if they see and hear about a product.
“We have good concepts with reasonable costs to help you sell your product,” said Hank Kozub co-founder of Page Gravy. “We represent value and innovation.”
A 30-second video costs $399, while a 60-second video costs $499. And the client is in the driver’s seat.
Go to the website, click on How to Order, and you’re on your way. The client can choose from dozens of Page Gravy actors, ranging in all ages, and can specify what they say, do, and wear. The client makes the choice, sends in the script or uses the company’s scriptwriting service, and then sits back and relaxes. Page Gravy films and edits the video, and provides the client with instructions on how to put the ad up.
One-on-one communication is the most effective way for a business to make a true connection with their clientele and maintain that relationship in the long-term.
Do you know the difference between marketing and sales? If not, read on. Knowing it (and acting on it) may mean the difference between success and failure. This tip comes from coach and success strategist Philip Humbert.
Many people have pointed out the distinction between marketing (making people aware of you and your business) and sales (closing the deal). It’s always critical to know which is which, and to use skills appropriate for the situation.
Recently, I’ve seen business people using far too many marketing strategies and impatiently wondering why they weren’t creating instant results. I recently consulted with one local business that has tried 9 different marketing strategies in the past year, “but none of them worked.” No wonder they and their potential customers are confused!
My coaching was that all of the strategies seemed viable, and any of them might work well IF they picked one and used it consistently over time. The owner’s problem is that (1) he doesn’t want to choose because he fears he’ll choose the wrong one, and (2) he’s eager for his marketing to produce rapid sales, which is a mistake.
Marketing is primarily intended to create brand recognition and give you the opportunity to make sales in the future. Sales is the art of helping a qualified prospect (who is already interested) to buy right now. They are different processes and they require different skills.
Be clear about your marketing strategy. Pick one or two strategies that come naturally for you, and that you enjoy. Use it over time — months, years, even decades! — to give yourself the opportunity to make sales down the road.
Then, know and use appropriate SALES techniques when the time comes. When a qualified prospect inquires about your goods or services, know how to close the deal, but don’t expect that every MARKETING conversation will lead to immediate sales. Knowing the difference is a key to long-term financial success.
Copyright 2007, All rights reserved. Philip Humbert.
Contact him at www.philiphumbert.com or Coach@philiphumbert.com. Sign up for his free TIPS e-newsletter.
Put a Google map on your site or blog
Now you can add Google maps to your Web site or blog in just three easy steps! No need for fancy programming. Just copy and paste a snippet of HTML.
Here is a map of our business address:
Introducing AnthemAZRestaurants.com — a new directory featuring restaurants and others places to eat, drink, snack and dine in Anthem, Arizona.
All eateries get a free basic listing. An Enhanced Listing subscription, which includes an optional Menu page and Specials page that subscribers can update anytime, can be purchased for 6-month and 12-month contracts — for about the same price as running a classified ad in a newspaper. This is a sizzlin’ deal!
The Web site uses a Content Management System (CMS) from Interspire, a wonderful company Down Under. If you’re looking for a full-featured, easy-to-use CMS, check out ArticleLive.
Let us know what you think of the new directory!
