A simple strategy for creating profit friendly Tweets

Supreme search engine, Google, announced they will be showing tweets in their search results, recognizing social media giant, Twitter, for its overwhelming consumer interest. Twitter's explosive growth (surpassing 27 million in October '09) indicates that businesses need to get acquainted with yet another powerful internet marketing channel. So how do you leverage Twitter to improve your business ROI (return of investment), website visibility, and traffic?

In layman's terms, Twitter is much like other Social Media websites. You create a profile, affiliate with like consumers, and communicate (tweet) by listing short posts (less than 140 characters). If other Twitter consumers like your message, they can "follow" you, and re-post your tweets, exposing you to their followers. The ability to effectively create a large consumer audience will eventually draw more traffic to your social media page, and business website. So, where do you start?

Step 1- Define your Social Media Personality by defining the following (in order):

• Consumer Demographics - age, sex, race, socio-economic status, location, etc.
• Common interests - Create assumptions about your target audience; their purchasing trends, likes and dislikes, affiliations, associations, etc. If you aren't sure, run a focus group comprising of actual consumers.
• Once you create a consumer profile, design your social media personality. Whether you are the well versed educator, the comedic entertainer, or the gifted scientist, stick with your decision be consistent.

Step 2 - Like most internet marketing material, successful Twitter campaigns rely on technically establishing authority through consistent research of effective keywords and links. Your Twitter profile and content is indexed by Google, and will enhance your visibility. Optimize your 140 character tweet with as many keywords associated with your business and consumer needs. Incorporating links that compliment your social media personality tweets will increase traffic to your twitter profile & company website.

Step 3 - Engage in social media networking. Create tweets that followers will re-post, known as "re-tweeting", exposing your social media personality to more consumers. Follow non competing twitter personalities (a twitter link exchange), and strategize each tweet.

To effectively market your online business, you need to create a balance between using keywords, and creating attractive tweets. If you are too aggressive, you'll lose credibility. With utmost patience, construct your social media personality, technically optimize your tweets, and deliver messages that demand consumer interest. Happy tweeting!

--By Ben Jacoby

Is SPAM the ultimate rejection in e-mail marketing?

Email marketing, commonly associated with "SPAM" has a less than stellar reputation. We're all used to cleaning out our spam/ junk mail folders, while skimming through computer-generated promotions for products we aren't particularly interested in.

But the reason that email marketing still thrives, is that bulk email blasts cost little to nothing to produce and send. Promotional productions avoid the likes of direct mail costs, such as packaging, printing, postage, and affiliated manpower. So, if only one out of ten-thousand consumers buy the "Deluxe Rolex Watch - CHEAP!!", the promotion is profitable. Businesses are now introduced to an inexpensive means to mint money from good strategy.

A clear incentive in email marketing is the ability to create a legitimate consumer audience (address book), engage them through strategized promotions, and expand network through automated referrals. Tracking of bounced emails & adherence to SPAM laws maintain a genuine network of interested consumers, with very little expense. Promotions can be strategized in advance, tested for efficacy (focus groups), and successful campaigns can be promoted to out of network consumers by means of incorporating a "Forward to Friend" feature within each campaign. Additionally, the Social Media surge (facebook, myspace, twitter, etc.) has amended the tradition structure of an email promotion to include posts to consumer profiles with a single click.

Email marketing's most exciting attribute is in accumulating brilliant market research on target audience & consumer trends. Businesses can acquire demographic details during consumer registration, allowing them to construct segmented email lists, and devise targeted promotions for specific consumer groups. Male & female recipients can now view the same Rolex promotion with imagery that compliments their personal style. Additionally, with the advent of embedded tracking cookies, campaign strategists can ascertain the success of individual promotions, creating priceless market research.

While 92% of emails are considered SPAM, recent consumer surveys indicate that majority of people (62%) prefer to receive marketing promotions via email, than direct mail. In fact, three-quarters of consumers report they've bought something as a direct result of e-mail marketing. Don't be mistaken, the email marketing strategy will create record buyer rejections, but don't take it personally. Always, remember that a few hot minutes can alter the tide of your sales and proper analysis of each promotion will create an encyclopedia of effective sales pitches.

--By Ben Jacoby

Brand Consultants & established Web Design/ Outsourcing Firm contribute to Autism as part of their non-profit outreach program.

Brand Gurus in the New York area joined forces with established BPO-centric web design provider, DPS Technologies, to reach out yet again & contribute to an organization that is beyond deserving, "The Fay J Lindner Center for Autism & Developmental Disabilities"

Since forming in 2001, the Fay J Lindner Center for Autism has strived toward achieving its mission, "to be a national Center of Excellence for the development and implementation of comprehensive assessment and continuum of services for children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities, their families, and the professionals who serve them."

"We were alarmed," Rohit Barman, the President of DPS America, the exclusive consulting hub for 30 year old outsourcing establishment, DPS Technologies, said when asked about this project, "to learn that Autism was the fastest growing developmental disability today. It is our honor to contribute this website to the Fay J Lindner Center for Autism & the clinical infrastructure of AHRC Nassau, & hope that the internet will draw more awareness & means for supporting this incredible epidemic affecting autistic children & adults nationwide."

Utilizing their BPO service facility & NY Brand Consultants, DPS Technologies created the autism center's brand identity (logo) & website to compliment the center's clinical infrastructure located on Long Island, NY, as well as their parent program, AHRC Nassau. In addition, they utilized their in-house internet marketing resources to create the center's press release announcing their website launch.

In past projects, DPS' Non-Profit Program created & launched the online brand for the Robbie Levine Foundation, & the American Airpower Museum, which resulted in media exposure of their sites (CNN, CBS Morning Show, News 12, etc), while experiencing increases in donations, volunteers and memberships. A recent addition is the DPS Scholars program reflects the firm's interest in utilizing their outsourcing resources in supporting the greater community.

DPS invites non-profits to apply for this program by emailing a one page request to their PR Representative.

“Out of the box” thinking in a real estate recession is an available necessity

As a realtor, you work hard at selling real estate, especially in our infamous recession. This leaves you little time to think out of the box, or strategize new channels for home sales. However, consumers are increasingly turning to the internet for local business research, underlining the competitive necessity of having an online presence. So, how do you make sure you appreciate a strong ROI (Return of Investment)?

It's easy! Unlike most professional services, realtors have a multitude of real estate marketing solutions available at their fingertips. Vendors competing for your purchase of their real estate marketing tools often spend $5- $10 just so you click on their website... a gamble it is.

In terms of cost and immediacy, website templates work best. A real estate template offers an inexpensive, yet comprehensive solution allowing you to establish your online presence, while still supplying a level of individuality through various designs and options. Additionally, certain template providers provide user friendly administrative controls which allow you to edit content, images, & property listings, allowing you to optimize your website appearance & delivery, as you grow to understand your online audience.

Why is this important? In the very competitive real estate market, realtors in your area are competing to appear higher on the search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc.). Content plays a huge role in your buyers' ability to find you before your local competitors. Although, it takes about 6 months for you to effectively see the results from utilizing optimized content, some Real Estate Template providers offer "SEO - search engine optimized content" as part of their website template package. This technical content is strategically created based on scientific principal(s) defined by the combination of diligent research & consumer search analysis.

Interaction also works to keep buyers engaged, and realtor templates oblige with options to showcase floor plans, message boards, property searches, 3dwalkthroughs, and virtual tours, a 360-degree view of a property. A potential buyer can "tour" a property on your website, while sitting on their couch, and narrowing down the property listings they want to see - an excellent way to optimize your time. Consider also that many of these interactive elements have become expected features for a real estate website.

Additionally, property search parameters provide a catalog of user information, turning online home searches into a valuable consumer behavior study . Some template provider(s) offers a service that sends tailored property listings to a visitors' email, a great method for generating leads, while providing excellent customer service.

A realtor solutions' combination of comprehensive website editing controls, optimized content for search engine exposure, interactive services for buyer engagement, and consumer search data reports for strong forecasting, can establish the resulting website as one of your premier online marketing tools. And how much does this cost?

Research says you can get all of the above for less than $500.

DPS launches innovative property marketing tool for Realtors

DPS Technologies recently announced the launch of a comprehensive Real Estate website solution for agents, with advanced functions such as 100% content & image mgmt. controls (yes, including their logo!), mgmt. of property listings, mechanized consumer search analysis, and automated buyer profile acquisition, property matching, & emailing of customer(s) with a personalized list of available home listings. This inclusive real estate website service offers significant promise & confidence to realtors in a very bumpy real estate market.

DPS Technologies' Real Estate Website solution is an affordable, user-friendly means to create a dent in the ever growing online market. A secure administrative portal, allows a realtor complete control over each section within their website(s) framework. Using this website solution does not rob the agent's real estate website of originality. DPS provides a number of unique website designs, in a variety of colors, so a realtor can tailor their website to a desired flavor, matching their existing brand identity (logo). The ability to edit all content and images, allows realtors the ability to optimize their appearance & delivery as they grow to understand their online audience.

An enticing lead generation tool convinces buyers to register & receive automated deliveries of property listings as they enter the real estate market, as well as engage in conversations over the agent monitored (optional) message board. Visitors can also utilize a wide array of website function(s) such as quick & advanced property search tool(s), mortgage calculator, submit homes for sale (optional), and get assistance with financing their home (optional).

Ultimately, it's the realtors who benefit most from this extensive solution. With a click of a button, they can select to turn on or off individual website function(s), review consumer search trends, create and edit their open house calendar, and list as little or as much information about each property listing as they like. Realtors can add as many home image(s), upload floor plans, virtual tours, 3dwalkthroughs, school information, exterior and interior amenities, individual room details/ dimensions, and much more!

As if they haven't just created the ultimate home marketing tool, DPS' insider(s) just announced that all realtors within their network will have free access to "search engine optimized" content utilizing the latest real estate consumer search trends.

Outsourcing can define your company fate, so look before you leap

According to a recent survey of company executives who pursued an outsourcing strategy, the number one reason for BPO/ offshore investments was expected cost savings. Yet, 25% of those services who outsourced saw no change in costs. Among those who did reduce costs by outsourcing, the average savings was 19%, well short of the high hopes that typically motivate a BPO strategy. Common factors that affect savings include miscommunication, service quality, & security.

However, not outsourcing is even riskier. The competitive environment has become harsher as a result of a historic market depression. Global competition & automated service processes (software driven) have made it even harder for businesses to strengthen their ROI. The most efficient producer is the one who successfully weaves together the best and lowest-cost segment within their company to the finished product.

The risk(s) of offshore investments segments can be assessed, managed, and controlled through proper strategy & service implementation. Independent outsourcing surveyor, Ventoro Institute, found that the leading causes of failure were a lack of preparation by the American purchaser, exclusion of a joint- operation & communication map, and outsourcing the wrong service segment. Each could be avoided with greater diligence on the part of the outsourcing client. "As a rule of thumb, the outsourcing buyer should be the one pushing for greater clarity throughout the entire engagement".

Ventoro estimates that proper service strategy could lead to cost savings of 30%, or greater. So, how do you select a strong BPO vendor?

• Communication: A clear point of contact must be available in person. The point of contact must offer practical intelligence & support you in mapping your service strategy. The "point of contact(s)", are often labeled as the "middle-men of outsourcing" are in many ways a local, and essential agent to the BPO production.
• Quality Control: Check certifications & portfolio. In India, the globally acclaimed program, "ISO 9001-2000" (see example) certifies company(s) for service quality. However, the certification does not guarantee strong ROI.
• Security: If your service maintains sensitive data, ask your BPO vendor to discuss security protocol with you & provide evidence. The ISO 9001-2000 certificate(s) does certify internal security procedures, but does not cover higher level security procedures as required by US federal programs.

BPO specialist, Rohit Barman, the President of DPS America, the exclusive consulting hub for 30 year old global outsourcing firm encourages businesses to "conduct a background check of each company, senior staff members, ask for references, and ensure the company has catered to American clientele for 5+ years." He adds that "you should never take a leap of faith in outsourcing, let proper research define your leap". The result of all this is that if a service fragment can efficiently be outsourced for cost savings, it should be. And those who fail to optimize their service by outsourcing will be competing with others who have conducted their research, and gained ground in the overall market share, with greater ROI & investment potential.

A Logo might be your Brand Identity, but it does NOT define your Company Brand

What is branding? ...

... The goal is to make your product or business the most recognized "face" amongst competitors, to be a face known, liked, and trusted by as many consumers as possible. This involves much more than creating a logo or brand name. It's actually a little like speed dating. First impressions mean a hell of a lot, as you have only a few seconds to appeal, & convince an audience that your business is worthy of their time. But, it is equally important to follow up this first impression with an equally convincing "brand experience".

Big company brands are worth lots of money. Wall Street firms calculate these values in the billions, rating their typical contribution to profits as upwards of 40%. However, if you're reading this article, you're probably not the CEO of a Wall Street business. And if my intuition holds strong, I'd like to add that most experts conclude that branding is an ROI Strategy (return of investment) better suited for small businesses. First, it's easier for them to project their vision and "brand personality" and to establish stable relationships with customers, because the brand really is a projection of the owner's intelligence, passion, & investment strategy. And since small businesses typically have a focused product, their brand message(s) can easily be aligned. Additionally, flexibility and size make it easier to project a brand message through every aspect of the consumer experience.

In her delightful book Brain Tattoos, brand consultant Karen Post describes the goal of branding as the creation of an "imprint" in the minds of customers (a "brain tattoo"). What should go in the tattoo is the "essence" of your small business and how it relates to its customers. To discover your essence, you will want to take out a notepad and answer these simple questions:

• What service do you provide? (define your service)
• What is your competitive advantage? (why is your company in the market - pricing advantage, location, value, technical strategy)
• Who/ what is your target audience? (Businesses, Consumer Market, Demographics, etc.)
• How will your target audience communicate with your company post-purchase? (customer service strategy)
• How will product or service growth affect your business strategy, corporate infrastructure, & target market? (Define your 1-2-5 year vision... and no, I don't mean your family vacation to Aruba.)

With the advent of the internet (larger audience), social media (focus groups), automated consumer trends analysis (statistics) & BPO/ business outsourcing (low investment), small business owners now have the option to create a cost efficient & effective branding strategy that is affordable & appreciated.

Finally, you are ready to create you company logo!