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	<title>The Ultimate Internet Image &#187; Social Media and Web 2.0</title>
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		<title>Understanding Social Media: Is Social Media Really Social?</title>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:58:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Inbound Marketing and Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media Relationships and Sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media and Connections]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Social Media and Web 2.0]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Ultimate Internet Image]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Ultimate Internet Image]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Understanding Social Media: Is Social Media Really Social?]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How to Succeed with Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Understanding Social Media]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Social Media, Reciprocity, and Active Engagement Courtesy and Personality I am often asked how my Twitter following grew to over 25,000. How I have over 4,000 connections on LinkedIn. Those who know me ask how, across 1600 social media sites online, I was able to add over 50,000 social media friends, contacts, connections, and followers. [...]]]></description>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Social Media, Reciprocity, and Active Engagement</strong></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Courtesy and Personality</strong></h2>
<p><strong>I am often asked how my Twitter following grew to over 25,000. How I have over 4,000 connections on LinkedIn. Those who know me ask how, across 1600 social media sites online, I was able to add over 50,000 social media friends, contacts, connections, and followers.</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>How? </em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em></em>What’s your <em>secret?</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>I have thought about this <em>a lot!</em></strong></p>
<p>I am a relative unknown. I don’t particularly like socializing and usually stay to myself and people I am familiar with when out. I am slow to wwarm up to people and 2 years ago I didn’t have or know how to set up a website, much less know what Twitter or Facebook or YouTube was. The only reason I knew about MySpace was because my kids were on it and it was talked about in the media all the time.</p>
<p><strong><em>I was less than a novice, if that is possible, and knew less than nothing!</em></strong></p>
<p>When I joined Twitter on December 18, 2008 I nursed a grand total of 218 followers into March of the New Year and still had no clue what I was doing when it came to social media and Internet marketing.</p>
<p><strong>Inbound marketing?</strong></p>
<p><strong>Again, <em>less than nothing!</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>But I am a fast study and I realized several things right off the bat:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>The Internet was simply a communication vehicle, albeit an extremely powerful one.</li>
<li>Social media was a communication vehicle within a communication vehicle and also an extremely powerful one.</li>
<li>Social media was a reflection of a need expressed throughout society, a need for connection and meaning.</li>
<li>Video sharing was an extension of social media and just another way to share and connect.</li>
<li>Social media wasn’t about building a huge amount of followers all at once, as many people seemed intent on doing at the time.</li>
<li>Social media was like the Breck commercial, one of the most famous marketing campaigns in the history of marketing. <em>I tell two people…and they tell two people…and so on…and so on…and so on!</em> The root of viral communication, pun intended!</li>
<li>Social media was not about selling stuff online, it was about:
<ul>
<li>Making connections</li>
<li>Building relationships</li>
<li>Building trust</li>
<li>Forming bonds</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Social media was about converting all of the above into a Win-Win for both parties in the relationship!</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>But a funny thing happened on the way to meaningful social media interaction…marketing happened.</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Bad marketing!</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Social media marketing!</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>The fact is, social media has very little to do with direct marketing, it is almost anathma to what social media is all about:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Connections</li>
<li>Relationships</li>
<li>Trust</li>
<li>Bonds</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>The challenge is, everyone wants to be Dell and Southwest Airlines.</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>The fact is, most are not!</em></strong></p>
<p>Yes, Dell made 3 million with social media. But Dell is Dell and has spent many millions over many years creating brand awareness. Southwest Airlines is Southwest Airlines, arguably one of the most successful customer service companies in history, in any sector, in any line of business!</p>
<p>Southwest and Dell did not start out on the Internet two years ago with zero visibility and no brand awareness and throw up a Facebook Page and a Twitter Page and make millions from day one. They did it the old fashioned way, they earned it over several years, banging it out, one day at a time.</p>
<p><strong>No <em>secret!</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>No <em>mystery!</em></strong></p>
<p>Solid marketing that carried over into a new medium.</p>
<p><strong>Enter John Zajaros and <a href="http://ultimateinternetimage.com" target="_blank">The Ultimate Internet Image</a>, Joe Dokes and Joe’s Auto Shop, or Julie Smith and Julie’s Flowers…or whatever.</strong></p>
<p><strong>We enter social media from basically the same space, <em>square one!</em></strong></p>
<p>For those you us who have little or no brand identity, little or no Internet savvy, and little or no real capital behind our inbound marketing efforts, we must do it the old fashioned way too…we have to go out and earn it.</p>
<p>That means <em>one day at a time</em>, <em>one connection at a time</em>, done over time, and in such a way that it benefits both parties.</p>
<p><strong>In other words, <em>we push each other up!</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>How?</em></strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Spreading each other’s      posts, messages, videos, tweets, etc.</li>
<li>Sharing each other’s      links.</li>
<li>Reading each others blogs.</li>
<li>Watching each other’s      videos.</li>
<li>Following each other back.</li>
<li>Responding to open      questions put to the entire commiunity, the social media community.</li>
<li>Responding to each others      messages.</li>
<li>And much more…</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Finally, and this one is so intuitive and yet is never done&#8230;<em>show appreciation!</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>To say:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>“I care!”</li>
<li>“You matter!”</li>
<li>“You’re welcome!”</li>
<li>And the biggest one of      all? “Thank you!”</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>It is incredible how many times a day people fail to say those two magic words, any of them, but especially…</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>…“Thank you!”</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>“Please!”</em> and “<em>Thank You!</em>”</strong></p>
<p>Common courtesy!</p>
<p><strong>The <em>secret</em> to building a social media following?</strong></p>
<p><strong>The <em>secret</em> to success at anything in life?</strong></p>
<p>Push others up and show gratitude for the opportunity to connect, to be a part of someone else’s life, to contribute to the “Greater Good!”</p>
<p><em>Sound naïve?</em></p>
<p>Sound a bit starry-eyed and utopian?</p>
<p><strong><em>Not at all!</em></strong></p>
<p>Common courtesy and reciprocity have been around since we were all running around in tribes.</p>
<p><strong>No, not Seth Godin type tribes&#8230;although he is <em>dead on! </em></strong></p>
<p>It is what makes us human and it is why social media is such a big hit…because people are thirsty for that connection, that sense of oneness, and that sense of being appreciated.</p>
<p><strong>Want to succeed online?</strong></p>
<p><strong>In <em>business?</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>In life?</em></strong></p>
<p>Make <em>someone else </em>feel special, make <em>someone else</em> feel important, make <em>someone else</em> feel like you noticed them; and make sure it’s not just for some relationship ROI cr#p but because you really care about people. Do that and you will succeed in every aspect of your life.</p>
<p><strong>If you are focused on where your next 1000 Twitter followers are going to come from…</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Good luck!</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>If you are focused on how you can make a difference in soemone’s life…</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>You don’t need me!</em></strong></p>
<p>This has been building up for a while. I thought this a good time to bring it up.</p>
<p>Thank you for reading this and I hope it resonated with you on some level.</p>
<p><strong>If it did? <em>Please leave a comment?</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>If it didn’t? <em>Please leave a comment!</em></strong></p>
<p><strong><em>In any case, please leave a comment!</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>Thank you!</strong></p>
<p><strong>John Zajaros</strong><br />
<strong>The Ultimate Internet Image</strong><br />
<strong>Lakewood, Ohio 44107</strong><br />
<strong>216-712-7004</strong></p>
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		<title>How to Create an Inbound Marketing Strategy Using the New Media</title>
		<link>http://ultimateinternetimage.com/how-to-create-an-inbound-marketing-strategy-using-the-new-media/</link>
		<comments>http://ultimateinternetimage.com/how-to-create-an-inbound-marketing-strategy-using-the-new-media/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Jul 2010 04:40:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Brick and Mortar Business and Inbound Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How to Create an Inbound Marketing Strategy Using the New Media]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[New Media and Inbound Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Outbound Marketing Inbound Marketing and the Ultimate Internet Image]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Inbound Marketing A through Z: Beginning a Marketing Consultancy – Part III Once you have come to know your prospective client and have agreed to go forward, making sure you will be able to work together for some time to come, it is time to get down to business! Up until now the discussion has [...]]]></description>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Inbound Marketing A through Z: Beginning a Marketing Consultancy – Part III</strong><br />
<strong><em></em></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong><em>Once you have come to know your prospective client and have agreed to go forward, making sure you will be able to work together for some time to come, it is time to get down to business!</em></strong></p>
<p>Up until now the discussion has been about strategies and branding, unique selling propositions (unique selling point &#8211; USP) and video marketing, the power of the new media to build relationships and how inbound marketing is the best thing since sliced bread. You have no doubt discussed how, with the proper mix of inbound and outbound marketing strategies to include blogging and the use of social media, you will be able to enhance your new client’s Internet image, getting them to page one of the various search engine results pages (SERPs) for the keywords that will reach their target audience.</p>
<p>If you are really sharp, you have also discussed how you will, at the same time, use traditional marketing, now referred to as old media, outbound marketing strategies, to gain additional traction.</p>
<p><strong>Please note: It is <em>crucial</em> to use what works.</strong></p>
<p>Marketing is not an either-or proposition, as in inbound marketing <strong><em>or</em></strong> outbound advertising, it is about converting leads, prospects, and prospective patients into life-long customers, clients, and patients. The proper marketing strategy will yield an ongoing relationship that profits both sides of the equation for years to come.</p>
<p><strong>When viewed as a comprehensive strategy, there is one goal:</strong></p>
<p>To increase traffic to the website and through the door, literally or figuratively, converting traffic into leads, appointments, and sales; thus building a relationship before, during, and after the initial sale and, as stated, gaining a client for life.</p>
<p><strong><em>How?</em></strong></p>
<p>Well, whether you are reading this as a marketing consultant beginning to build your own inbound marketing consultancy or as a prospective marketing client, attempting to get an idea of what is in store for you if you take the next step and initiate a formal, inbound marketing consultation and competitive analysis, the process is fairly straightforward.</p>
<p>If you have been through the inbound marketing consultation, whether as the consultant or as a prospective client, you will know many things about your niche and your target market.</p>
<p><strong>The information you need can be derived from the following resources:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>First, “Google” you’re your client’s business name and personal information, if relevant.</li>
<li>Alexa Rank
<ul>
<li>Traffic Stats: Daily Traffic Rank Trend (up or down over 30 and 90 days)</li>
<li>Reach (percent of global Internet users who visit your site if your client has one)</li>
<li>Pageviews (percent of global pageviews)</li>
<li>Pageviews/User (daily pageviews per user)</li>
<li>Bounce % (the percentage of visits that consist of a single pageview)</li>
<li>Time in Site (daily time of site)</li>
<li>Search % (the percentage of visits that come from a search engine)</li>
<li>Search Analytics
<ul>
<li>Search Traffic</li>
<li>Top Queries from Search Traffic</li>
<li>Search Traffic on the Rise and Decline (based on keywords)</li>
<li>High Impact Search Queries (popular queries relevant to the client’s site)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Audience
<ul>
<li>Audience Demographics</li>
<li>Visitors by Country</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>And much more</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Quantcast
<ul>
<li>Daily, Weekly, Monthly Traffic
<ul>
<li>Per Person</li>
<li>Visits</li>
<li>Pageviews</li>
<li>Pageviews per Person</li>
<li>Visits per Person</li>
<li>Global Traffic Frequency</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Geographic Data
<ul>
<li>Countries</li>
<li>States</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Demographics</li>
<li>Business
<ul>
<li>Small</li>
<li>Medium</li>
<li>Large</li>
<li> Business Activity</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Google
<ul>
<li>Keywords (Free Adwords – External Keyword Tool)
<ul>
<li>Wonder Wheel</li>
<li>Current Trends</li>
<li>Video for Keywords</li>
<li>And much more!</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Analytics</li>
<li>Page Rank</li>
<li><a href="http://www.googlerankings.com/ultimate_seo_tool.php" target="_blank">Ultimate SEO Tool</a></li>
<li>Google Rankings</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.marketsamurai.com/c/JohnZajaros-info" target="_blank">Market Samurai</a> – In my opinion the best overall keyword tool available
<ul>
<li>Keyword Research</li>
<li>SEO Competition Research
<ul>
<li>Extremely useful analysis of page one competition, analyzing a myriad of factors</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Page Rank Research</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=100730&amp;u=364173&amp;m=14754&amp;urllink=&amp;afftrack=" target="_blank">SpyFu</a> – In my opinion the best competitive analysis tool on the Internet
<ul>
<li>In Depth Keyword Research</li>
<li>In Depth Competitive Keyword Research</li>
<li>In Depth Competitive Comparison and Analysis
<ul>
<li>Includes competitors’ advertising trends, budgets, keywords purchased, and ads run over the past 12 months
<ul>
<li>Incredibly valuable tool</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="http://affiliateprogram.keywordspy.com/n/sXPxvq1BAAL0l0MAAAbGQgAAYpRmMQA-A/" target="_blank">KeywordSpy</a> – Competitive research is on par with SpyFu and should be used together with SpyFu when possible
<ul>
<li>Excellent resource for tracking variables over time</li>
<li>Easy to use Mozilla plug-in</li>
<li>Amazingly powerful window into just what the competition is doing!</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Google, Yahoo, and Bing
<ul>
<li>Check for number of pages each of the Big 3 acknowledges</li>
<li>Check for number of links</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>If you have used most or all of the above, you are ready to create an inbound marketing strategy what will work. If you haven’t…what are you waiting for?</p>
<p><strong>If I had to pick 3 tools and was contrained by budgetary concerns, the 3 I would choose are:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.googlerankings.com/ultimate_seo_tool.php" target="_blank">Google</a> (Beginning with this link)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.marketsamurai.com/c/JohnZajaros-info" target="_blank">Market Samurai</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=100730&amp;u=364173&amp;m=14754&amp;urllink=&amp;afftrack=" target="_blank">SpyFu</a></li>
</ul>
<p>In that order!</p>
<p>If budget is not a concern, and it shouldn’t be by the time you begin servicing clients, all of the above mentioned resources are vital. Significantly, most are free.</p>
<p>Research completed, the first step is to create a social media profile. The social media profile should be comprehensive and across an array of niches but focusing primarily on social media sites relevant to your client’s audience.</p>
<p>Use the following socioal media hubs as a guide. There is a great deal of overlap but if you cover the four mentioned below your client will have excellent inititial coverage and you will have an easier time getting their message out.</p>
<ul>
<li>Ping.fm
<ul>
<li>Crucial – I use Ping.fm for all of my clients, daily. Use Ping.fm’s list of “networks,” setting up all of the networks available.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>OnlyWire
<ul>
<li>As important as Ping.fm and as easy to use – Again, set up all the “services” available.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>HelloTxt
<ul>
<li>Once again, a very useful hub – set up all the sites that link through HelloTxt.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>XeeSM
<ul>
<li>Like XeeSM a lot! XeeSM has a super array of apps and is very easy to use. The creators are very responsive and it fills out the four hubs I set up for every client.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>If you have set up all four of the social media hubs above your client will have approximately 225 social media profiles and you will be able to control the daily message through the four hubs. </strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Not bad, huh?</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>The video sharing and article directories are next.</strong></p>
<p>Video marketing is absolutely crucial for a number of reasons.</p>
<p>You have undoubtedly heard the saying:</p>
<p><em>Video is king!</em></p>
<p>Consequently, video is essential to new media, inbound marketing success. We live in the video age. Video will reach incredible numbers quickly and the shelf-life of well produced videos is worth the time and expense to do it right.</p>
<p>The best tool available to get you message out quickly and efficiently is<a href="http://www.TrafficGeyser.com/cmd.php?af=937414" target="_blank"> TrafficGeyser (or Traffic Geyser)</a>. TrafficGeyser is a powerful resource, one you simply cannot do without. TrafficGeyser combined with something as inexpensive as a $200 Flip MinoHD and a decent tripod will get you started creating quality videos in no time.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.TrafficGeyser.com/cmd.php?af=937414" target="_blank"> TrafficGeyser</a> offers a number of advantages when setting up your client’s inbound marketing strategy:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>TrafficGeyser allows you to set up multiple profiles for clients, thus allowing you to control all your clients’ campaigns from a single platform. At TrafficGeyser’s Platinum level you will have access to approximately 125 additional sites, including:
<ul>
<li>Social media sites</li>
<li>Social bookmarking sites</li>
<li>Article directories</li>
<li>Video sharing and video marketing sites</li>
<li>Podcast sites</li>
<li>Blogging sites</li>
<li>TrafficGeyser will then allow you to upload blog posts to all of the blogs you set up to reach through TG.</li>
<li>TrafficGeyser allows you to upload all your videos to the various video sharing sites, thus saving you hundreds of man-hours over the course of a year. Control all of your accounts through a single interface.</li>
<li>TrafficGeyser allows you to post articles to the various article directories with a click.
<ul>
<li>That’s right! You can set up your article directory memberships through TrafficGeyser and then upload them to the various directories from a single platform.</li>
<li>This feature allows you to set up all of your article directory profiles from one platform and then control them from your TG account. This is a real timesaver!</li>
<li>TrafficGeyser allows you to post to the various podcast sites.</li>
<li>TrafficGeyser allows you to set up RSS feeds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>By the time you have completed setting up the first four hubs (Ping, OnlyWire, HelloTxt, XeeSM) and your TrafficGeyser profile for your new client they will have approximately 350 new media marketing profiles across the Internet. With this kind of coverage, provided you create quality content, your client will see a significant bump in traffic, leads, prospects, appointments, and sales within 90 days and a huge jump in the first 12 months.</p>
<p>The secret is really no secret at all, it simply takes quality content delivered consistently over time. If your client already has a USP or you help them create one (upcoming blog post) and combine that with the right inbound marketing strategy using all the resources available to you and mentioned above, you will be a hit and your clients will love you!</p>
<p><strong>The formula is simple:</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Links + Longevity + Quality Content = Increased Traffic</strong></em></p>
<p>A well-focused message will reach the proper target audience. If you develop a unique seeling proposition (USP) that captures your target market’s imagination and deliver quality content over time, you will have people linking to your site and it will increase in authority. Couple the above with a well-constructed video marketing, delivering first-rate, well-written articles to the various directories and you will own you niche in less than a year.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>Consistent, quality content delivered over time equals inbound marketing success and guaranteed profitability using the new media.</em></strong></p>
<p>Above, you have everything you need to get the ball rolling!</p>
<p>In the next article we will talk about site construction, blog versus static website, premium WordPress theme versus the freebies, and the various shopping carts available. We will then get into email marketing and the various providers. We will also consider a number of other resources and various factors to consider when building your client&#8217;s Ultimate Internet Image.</p>
<p>I will then go into detail concerning the various resources available to streamline submissions even further, how to upgrade your video equipment, including why and why not, and what audio program is the best and when to use it.</p>
<p><strong><em>For now? </em></strong></p>
<p><strong>You have enough to get started, beginning to serve your clients well!</strong></p>
<p><em><strong>If you would like a comprehensive inbound marketing consultation, to include an assessment of your current marketing strategy, as well as a comprehensive competitive analysis, contact me today at The Ultimate Internet Image (see the number below).</strong></em></p>
<p><strong><em>Good luck!</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>John Zajaros</strong><br />
<strong>The Ultimate Internet Image</strong><br />
<strong>Lakewood, Ohio 44107</strong><br />
<strong>216-712-7004</strong><br />
<strong>440-821-7018</strong></p>
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		<title>Inbound Marketing: New Media Strategies and Social Media for Offline Business</title>
		<link>http://ultimateinternetimage.com/inbound-marketing-new-media-strategies-and-social-media-for-offline-business/</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Jun 2010 03:20:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Internet Marketing and LinkedIn]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Understanding the Importance of Social Media for Offline Businesses Long-time business owners may not think social media and offline business should coexist, but in realtiy, and particularly in today’s marketplace, a social media presence is essential. Brick and mortar businesses can use social media for branding, gaining name recognition and visibility at an extremely reasonable [...]]]></description>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Understanding the Importance of Social Media for Offline Businesses</strong></p>
<p>Long-time business owners may not think social media and offline business should coexist, but in realtiy, and particularly in today’s marketplace, a social media presence is essential. Brick and mortar businesses can use social media for branding, gaining name recognition and visibility at an extremely reasonable cost. Social media and inbound marketing are valuable tools in an advertising toolkit and should be an integral part of any business’s marketing strategy. Social media is also called the new media marketing.</p>
<p>How can you become involved in social media as an offline business? Start with a blog about your business and what you do. Be sure to update the blog often and encourage participation by way comments. You can research, discovering which social networks your customers use and become a presence on those networks. For example, you can create a Facebook page and invite customers and friends to visit your page. The page will link back to your blog and drive traffic back to your site and provide additional exposure for your business, thus increasing brand awareness.</p>
<p>Twitter is a very popular social media network. Most followers on Twitter are very loyal and will help promote your brand providing you engage without spamming. You must learn the social rules of Twitter and follow them accordingly or you will lose more clients than you will gain but if you use the proper etiquette you will profit for your involvement.</p>
<p>To make social networking work for your company, you must provide useful content that people will want to share. Bloggers today are becoming a leading source of information; work on building relationships with other bloggers through social media networks and they will provide valuable links for you.</p>
<p><strong>Several social networks are specialized for businesses. </strong></p>
<p><strong>Examples include:</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/JohnZajaros" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ecademy.com/user/johnzajaros" target="_blank">ecademy</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.xing.com/profile/John_Zajaros" target="_blank">Xing</a></p>
<p><a href="http://xeesm.com/johnzajaros/" target="_blank">XeeSm</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.naymz.com/john_zajaros_2711211" target="_blank">Naymz</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.viadeo.com/en/profile/john.zajaros">viadeo</a></p>
<p>Explore these and other business/social media sites for the best fit for your company. It may not be wise just to join a large number of networks that you cannot maintain.</p>
<p>LinkedIn is one of the largest and most popular social networking platforms for business. By forming a LinkedIn group related to your company, you can attract possible sales leads. Ask your employees and others in your field to join your group. The group page will be linked to your blog, so users can find you easily. As an expert in your field, you can also answer questions on LinkedIn and gain exposure in that way.</p>
<p>Ecademy, spelled ecademy (small “e”), is another social network for companies and has grown quickly, having a loyal membership base. Ecademy allows you to post your business profile and connect with other entrepreneurs. Business owners can receive advice as well as promote their own services worldwide. Networking groups are a popular destination on ecademy.</p>
<p>Xing claims to be the number one business/social network in Europe. Over eight million people use Xing. Xing sets up connections between businesses so they can find others to meet their needs and sell their services and products. You can search among all the professionals listed to find the right match for your needs. Xing also features groups and popular events, where you can meet other network users. Job seekers will find a separate application for them on Xing.</p>
<p>Naymz is an online network that offers some different features from some of the other business networks. Over one million people subscribe to this free service. Naymz offers a blogging feature and identity verification, among other things. The main idea on Naymz is to establish a positive reputation. Users build their reputation score through various assessments. If you have a high-scoring reputation on Naymz, the network will provide you with a sponsored Google listing. Naymz also assists in monitoring internet sources for any time your name appears online.</p>
<p>XeeSM states that they are “a social business application platform.” Professionals can keep all their contacts and their individual social networks together in an orderly fashion. Salespeople are able to reach clients through any number of social media; therefore, time and money are saved. XeeSM also provides a way for recruiters and job seekers to find one another quickly. XeeSM also offers various applications, including a business level app that is quite useful.</p>
<p>Brick and mortar business should embrace new media, inbound marketing, Web 2.0, etc. Social media is a low-cost way to build your image worldwide. Social media and inbound marketing are the future of advertising; it is better to become involved sooner than later but in the right way, with an overall marketing strategy designed to create brand awareness and a unique online identity, the ultimate Internet image.</p>
<p><strong>Would you like to talk about your business&#8217;s social media strategy? Allow us to help you create brand awareness and a social media identity that will connect with your target audience!</strong></p>
<p><em><strong>Contact Us Today!</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>John Zajaros</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>The Ultimate Internet Image</strong><br />
<strong>Lakewood, Ohio 44107</strong><br />
<strong>216-712-7004 (bus)</strong><br />
<strong>440-821-7018 (cell)</strong><br />
<strong>johnz@ultimateinternetimage.com</strong></p>
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		<title>How to Succeed Using New Media Marketing: Inbound and Internet Marketing</title>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:07:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[An Understanding of New Media, Inbound Marketing is Crucial When Attempting to Create The Ultimate Internet Image! New Media Marketing and/or Inbound Marketing New Media Marketing is a fairly new label for a well-established concept, relationship/referral marketing. New media marketing is simply relationship and referral marketing with a Web 2.0, viral twist. New media marketing [...]]]></description>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>An Understanding of New Media, Inbound Marketing is<br />
Crucial When Attempting to Create The Ultimate Internet Image!</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>New Media Marketing and/or Inbound Marketing </strong></p>
<p><strong><em> New Media Marketing</em></strong> is a fairly new label for a well-established concept, relationship/referral marketing. </p>
<p><strong>New media marketing is simply relationship and referral marketing with a Web 2.0, viral twist.</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>New media marketing</em></strong> is engaged in by online and offline businesses attempting to develop an online community, a following, a congregation, an aggregation of loyal, even raving fans!</p>
<p>The business <em>following</em>, the <em>congregation</em>, thus allows for and even encourages loyal customers, or raving fans, to come together, share experiences, tell stories, and offer anecdotes about their relationship and experiences with the Internet business or traditional brick and mortar concern in question.</p>
<p>The sharing of information enhances the company&#8217;s brand and solidifies the relationship between client and business, thus providing the business with a steady stream of repeat customers. I like the label &#8220;clients&#8221; much better&#8230;for a myriad of reasons.</p>
<p><strong>The Warm Market</strong></p>
<p><em><strong>The most expensive client to develop is the cold one, the client with no precious experience with the business engaged in a marketing campaign.</strong></em></p>
<p>Interestingly, while the previous statement has been proven time and again, many businesses, in fact most businesses, pursue the cold call, the cold lead, instead of developing a relationship with and marketing to their warm market, the clients they have developed over the weeks, months, and even years leading up to the present advertising and marketing campaign&#8230;often at great cost, both in dollars and resources (also dollars).</p>
<p><strong><em>The new media experience</em></strong> often includes blogs, forums, podcasts (a rapidly emerging and very exciting area for expression), social media platforms (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn), and even certain extended mastermind groups (e.g., StomperNet, Infusionsoft, and others). </p>
<p>All of the aforementioned platforms, and a myriad of others, contribute to the <strong><em>viral effect</em></strong> created by the client&#8217;s positive experience and passed on&#8230;.as they tell two people, and those two tell two people, and so on, and so on, and so on! </p>
<p><strong>Just like the hair commercial: the viral effect of new media marketing!</strong></p>
<p>Significantly, hundreds and often thousands will sing the praises of a business plugged in to and fully engaged in the new media, Web 2.0 experience. The new media marketing strategy, and the viral effect of such a marketing campaign, enhances the brand and creates opportunities for multiple sales over many weeks, months, and, again, years.</p>
<p><strong><em>One of the best arguments for a business to engage in and develop a new media marketing strategy is the idea that outbound advertising, meaning intrusive, in-your-face, traditional advertising, has lost its influence on consumers. If in fact, it ever had much of one to begin with.</em></strong></p>
<p>Evidence demonstrates conclusively that there has been a shift <strong><em>away from</em></strong> consumers simply accepting outbound advertising (i.e., newspaper, radio, Yellow Pages, junk mail, etc.) as something they must endure in order to make an intelligent purchasing decision.</p>
<p><em><strong>Again, the data suggests that consumers are engaged in <em>search driven buying behavior</em>, they are taking an active role from beginning to end. Google has become a verb.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>As in:</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>&#8220;To Google&#8221; or &#8220;I &#8216;Googled&#8217; it the other day and then went out and bought the car I found online.&#8221;</em></strong></p>
<p>Consumers are making buying decisions based on Internet research, &#8220;Googling,&#8221; and on referrals provided by followers, friends, and connections they have met online.</p>
<p>Interestingly, it has also been demonstrated rather conclusively that consumers are more inclined to take the word of a like-minded peer online, even if they have never actually met them, than to buy into the corporate-doublespeak, the outbound advertising spiel launched at them, often in invasive fashion, by traditional television ads (restroom breaks and trips to the fridge), radio (I change the channel, that&#8217;s why we have so many buttons! Right?), direct mail (making a comeback when done effectively but most is cat box filler), and newspaper advertising (expensive and impossible to track, also for the cats and even the bird cages). I hear newspapers are also good for cleaning windows. </p>
<p><strong><em>New Media Marketing has a myriad of advantages over traditional, outbound advertising!</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>This trend will only continue over time, as millions find the Internet daily, hand-held connectivity is increasing exponentially, and the following trend continues: </strong></p>
<p>*The <em><strong>Yellow Pages</strong></em><strong> </strong>grows mold in the closet! (see the video)</p>
<p><strong>*<span style="font-weight: normal;">iPods, MP3 players, and CDs replace music on the radio!</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>*</strong>People get their news via the Internet&#8230;<em>never to open a paper again! (except as liners and for windows!)</em></p>
<p><em><span style="font-style: normal;"><strong>The fact is, there is still a place for outbound advertising but it will never be what it once was&#8230;the consumer would probably never allow it anyway!</strong></span></em></p>
<p><em><span style="font-style: normal;">To succeed offline, in a traditional brick and mortar business, or online as an affiliate, in an e-commerce &#8220;store&#8221; or in any number of other ways, new media marketing must be understood and implemented, particularly in this economy and with consumers growing wiser by the minute. </span></em></p>
<p><em><span style="font-style: normal;">The combination of a down economy and an educated consumer means if a business, any business, isn&#8217;t fully committed and equally engaged in the new media marketing process&#8230;they may not make it! Or at the very least, the business will lose a lot of money, money they could have been making and spending to make more money. </span></em></p>
<p><em><span style="font-style: normal;">The choice is an obvious one&#8230;or so one would think. Interestingly, people resist change, even business people, and even when the advice and service is quite affordable. It is human nature to resist change. It is also in the nature of most businesses to fail in the first 10 years&#8230;the decision seems a simple one&#8230;or is it?! </span></em></p>
<p><em><span style="font-style: normal;">It is certainly the profitable one:</span></em></p>
<p><em><strong>New Media Marketing works!</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Contact me anytime for comments and questions&#8230;or just leave them here!</strong></p>
<p><em><strong>Prof John P J Zajaros Sr</strong></em><br />
<em><strong>216-712-6526</strong></em><br />
<em><strong>216-539-7412</strong></em><br />
<em><strong>johnz@ultimateinternetimage.com</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>PS, For a no obligation inbound marketing consultation, including a new media strategy assessment and a complete competitive analysis, call me at either number above. Or email me for more information. Call 24/7 the machine is always on.</strong></p>
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		<title>Outbound Marketing, Inbound Marketing and the Ultimate Internet Image</title>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:35:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[The Questions Every Business Must Ask Before, During, and After Each and Every Inbound Marketing Campaign Many companies pay huge sums of money, either to search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and MSN (Bing) for pay-per-click sponsored advertising or to SEO firms, to get to page one, the first page for various coveted keyword phrases [...]]]></description>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>The Questions Every Business Must Ask Before, During, and After Each and Every Inbound Marketing Campaign </strong></p>
<p><em><strong>Many companies pay huge sums of money, either to search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and MSN (Bing) for pay-per-click sponsored advertising or to SEO firms, to get to page one, the first page for various coveted keyword phrases responsible for generating leads, traffic, prospects, and ultimately, sales.</strong></em> </p>
<p>While both inbound marketing strategies may be effective, they are certainly not the most effective methods overall, both in terms of costs and/or results, for dealing with the marketing conundrum, the puzzle presented by Google and the other search engines. </p>
<p><strong>The puzzle? </strong></p>
<p>How does a business, either an online, Internet-based company or a traditional brick and mortar business, get the most exposure in the least amount of time and for the least amount of money?</p>
<p>In other words, how can a company optimize not only exposure, the ultimate Internet image and presence, but how can I do it in a cost effective manner?</p>
<p>How does a company optimize the ROI, return on investment?</p>
<p>These are the questions every company, online or offline, participating in online marketing or, as it is now referred to, inbound, new media marketing, needs to be able to understand and address. Unless a company can properly address these questions, these issues that cut to the heart of both short term and long term Internet marketing strategies and efforts, they are going about it in the wrong way.</p>
<p>As noted previously, there is a revolution underway, a transition within a transition. The Internet has forever altered how we spend money on sales and marketing campaigns. The shift is two-fold at its most fundamental level, and there are transitions within transitions, the state of Internet marketing, and thus the state of inbound marketing, is fluid, in a constant state of flux, evolving as knowledge of how to fully optimize the platform and its strategies are understood at a greater and deeper level.</p>
<p>The initial transition has occurred within and away from outbound advertising, the traditional in-your-face, intrusive advertising (<em>e.g.</em>, Yellow Pages, television, radio, billboards, etc.), to a consumer oriented, search driven marketing strategy, later to be referred to as inbound or new media marketing. Within this transition several more have taken place. However, the most significant and interesting shift has been in the social media milieu because it is reshaping the Internet at a fundamental level. As the latter continues to occur, how we target and reach various segments of the Web 2.0, social media population is defining inbound marketing. </p>
<p>The use of social media and video marketing, along with the emergence of the blog, social bookmarking, and the mini or micro-blogging phenomenon have reshaped the strategies of companies big and small, both traditional brick and mortar companies moving online and emerging Internet marketing concerns across a variety of niches.</p>
<p>Ultimately, the transition is far from over, yet one thing is a certainty, the old media style of advertising, the outbound method of marketing is fading and the new media, inbound marketing approach to client and customer acquisition is here for the foreseeable future. The ROI may be incredible, given the proper strategy and an understanding of inbound marketing. </p>
<p><strong>The next article in this series: <em>The Use of Video and Social Media to Achieve High Levels of Search Engine Visability!</em> will deal with how to integrate these two powerful models into your inbound marketing to create the Ultimate Internet Image long term!</strong></p>
<p>Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr.<br />
The Ultimate Internet Image &#8211; International<br />
216-539-7412<br />
Skype: johnzajaros1<br />
johnz@ultimateinternetimage.com</p>
<p><strong>PS, Call for a free consultation and video marketing strategy workup.</strong></p>
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		<title>The Ultimate Internet Image: Social Media, Sales and Marketing Part I</title>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:57:23 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Internet Marketing and Social Media]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[The merging of a comprehensive social media marketing strategy, also referred to by many as Web 2.0 marketing, with an overarching, inbound marketing campaign is crucial if our goal is to fully optimize advertising and marketing strategies online. The Internet marketing campaign, both in terms of monetization and branding, must reflect an understanding as well [...]]]></description>
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<p>The merging of a comprehensive social media marketing strategy, also referred to by many as Web 2.0 marketing, with an overarching, inbound marketing campaign is crucial if our goal is to fully optimize advertising and marketing strategies online. The Internet marketing campaign, both in terms of monetization and branding, must reflect an understanding as well as a synthesis, an integration of the various tools, applications, and platforms available and necessary for an effective inbound marketing campaign. In order to achieve the ultimate Internet image, in other words, in order to effectively brand yourself and your product, you must pursue and implement a program designed to optimize the best Web 2.0 has to offer with various other “<em>new media</em>,” Internet marketing techniques (<em>e.g.</em>, email marketing, on-site marketing, affiliate marketing, free advertising, etc). In order to fully exploit the growing popularity of social media generally, and certain social networking and video-sharing sites specifically, it must be understood that there is a major sift underway, a transition taking place on the Internet today. While I have addressed this transition at some length in previous articles, I will review and also discuss the various usage trends evident on the web, particularly as they relate to new media and online business. </p>
<p><strong>Social Media and the <em>Twitter Hawks’</em> Promise!</strong></p>
<p>Social networking sites are myriad, with more popping up every day. Social bookmarking and video-sharing sites are just as plentiful. That being the case, it is imperative we understand the transition and the trends underway and ongoing if, as Internet marketers, we wish to take advantage of the veritable gold rush underway on the web today.  However, a word of caution! While I use the phrase <em>gold rush</em>, I must add a caveat. Without the proper understanding, preparation, and an intelligent, well thought out inbound marketing strategy, the online campaign will come up <em>bust</em> every time.</p>
<p><strong>Vanishing: Attrition and Social Media</strong> </p>
<p>There are marketers disappearing as fast as they appear, 60% attrition from <em>Twitter</em> at last report, because they simply do not understand the intricacies, the balance, and the psychology underlying this rush to gold. Certainly it is true that <em>not</em> all of the 60% are or ever were marketers but the drop off is illustrative of just how fast the attraction and the luster fades. Interestingly, certain social media sites have come, and others gone, while you read this article, some fading into oblivion and others popping up to take their place.</p>
<p><strong>The Twitter Gold Rush</strong> </p>
<p>Many of the <em>Twitter</em> marketers (i.e., <em>Twits</em>, <em>Twitterers</em> or <em>Tweeple</em>) find out quite rapidly that a simple link doesn’t convert as well as the <em>Twitter Hawks</em>, I term I coined to label those individuals selling the dream, the “picks and shovels” to <em>Tweeple</em> looking to cash in on the Internet version of the <em>California Gold Rush</em> or was it the <em>Alaska Gold Rush</em>? Many soon discover it takes more than a metaphorical pick and shovel, meaning the latest load of rehashed and replayed <em>Twitter</em> marketing “stuff,” a lot nicer than the four letter word I was considering for a lot of it, from one of the myriad of <em>Twitter</em> marketing “gurus,” some with almost no followers and following even fewer…but they are experts? <em>The Twitter Hawks</em> out there are just waiting for the next <em>49er</em> to come along, dreaming of gold and panning for it on <em>Twitter</em>, <em>facebook</em>, or perhaps <em>YouTube.</em></p>
<p><strong><em>Twitter</em> and Four Letter Words</strong>,br></p>
<p>I mention <em>Twitter</em> because it is illustrative and symptomatic of a much deeper problem on the web generally, and within social media specifically. I am speaking of what rests at the very base, in fact is the basis of any effective marketing campaign, online or offline traditional brick and mortar, anywhere in the world, and in any field. The <em>problem</em> has to do with a clear lack of understanding of the sales process. Yes, we call it all kinds of fancy names in order to avoid saying the <em>“S”</em> word, that four letter word everyone hates. You see, <em>S…E…L…L…</em>is the ultimate four letter word! “I can’t <em>SELL</em>!” “Do I have to <em>SELL</em> anything?” “Will it involve having to <em>SELL</em> something?” “I didn’t know I’d have to <em>SELL</em> anything!” The best one, “He just wants to <em>SELL</em> me something!” The list goes on and the <em>italicized</em> emphasis placed on the four letter word doesn’t do the disdain, the utter contempt, the revulsion and/or the fear associated with the word justice. But it the best I can do.</p>
<p>I am certain you can hear people in your mind as you read the quotes, these are real and I have heard them all, so have most of you. Have you ever uttered any of the above quotes? Certainly! We don’t like to be <em>S…O…L…D…</em>we like to buy! The irony here should be immediately apparent. In order for you to buy anything, someone else has to do that four letter word to you. Interesting!</p>
<p><strong>The <em>S…A…L…E…</em>and the Sales Process</strong></p>
<p>We refer to the <em>sales</em> process, <em>selling</em> and <em>sales</em>, in many different ways, some are: online business; Internet marketing; inbound marketing; new media marketing; old media and/or outbound advertising; and, just about anything else but what it is, a <em>S&#8230;A…L…E</em>!<br />
Significantly, what many are talking about when speaking of sales and marketing is getting someone to take out their wallet and plunk down some cash. Interestingly, a sale is more than just an action and a transaction, much more! You see, you are selling when you get someone to donate their time, listen to your teleseminar, follow your tweets, check out a favorite quote, read a book you recommend, click on your link, join you on <em>LinkedIn</em> or <em>facebook</em> or <em>friendfeed</em>, <em>etc.</em></p>
<p><strong>It&#8217;s About Selling!</strong></p>
<p>So, whatever you do, wherever you do it, most of it is selling. Sometimes sales is about cash, occasionally a lot of cash! And that may actually retard the selling process, we will talk about why in a upcoming article, but selling is not about the cash, it never is, never has been. Cash is a byproduct of the sale, small letters and no emphasis. Sales is about what makes sites like <em>Twitter</em> and <em>facebook</em> and the hundreds of others popular, it’s about the <em>connection</em>, the <em>relationship</em>, the <em>bond</em> that forms before most sales are ever made. Let me say that again&#8230;</p>
<p><strong>&#8230;it’s about the <em>connection</em>, the <em>relationship</em>, the <em>bond</em>!</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Tweeple</em>, the S…A…L…E…and Self</strong></p>
<p>Unfortunately, many <em>Tweeple</em>, in fact most people new to sales, advertising, and marketing simply do not have what it takes to make a sale, much less a <em>S&#8230;A&#8230;L…E</em>! There is a secret to selling and I am going to share it with you here. I’m going to share it with you so you too may have the success I have had over the years, as a direct result of selling. Yes, selling! You see, life is a sales and marketing process, all of it. If you are successful at selling your <em>self</em>, you will find a mate. If you are successful at selling your <em>self</em>, you will get a good job. If you are successful at selling your <em>self</em>, your kids will listen to and respect you. If you are successful at selling your <em>self</em>, the youth soccer team you coach will listen to you&#8230;and they may even win a game or two. Get the idea? Life is a sales process, every hour or every day…<em>sales</em>!</p>
<p><strong>The <em>Other</em> Four Letter Word!</strong></p>
<p>Did you notice something else? S…E…L…F…is also a four letter word, one just as detrimental to the sales process as the word <em>S…E…L…L</em>! So, get your <em>S…E…L…F…</em>out of the sales process and make your prospective client’s <em>self</em>-interest your focus!</p>
<p><strong>The Secret and The Close…Another Four Letter Word</strong></p>
<p>Oh yeah! The secret? The secret is two-fold and you have the answer above. The secret is that there is no sales process! If you attempt to <em>S…E…L…L…</em>anything, you will fail. Yes, you may <em>close</em> the S…A…L…E, and <em>close</em> should be another four letter word. A lasting relationship, one built on a connection and a bond, means you will have a steady client, referrals, and repeat business. The close? Closing someone leads to cancellations, an unhappy client, and clients focused on one thing, price! The price fixation is never a good situation, always a bad <em>S…A…L…E</em>!</p>
<p><strong>It&#8217;s About 3 Things!</strong></p>
<p>Selling is about what? Yes, that’s right! The sales process is all about the <em>connection</em>, the <em>relationship</em>, and the <em>bond</em>. I have always been an unconventional salesman. I have never followed a sales script, never. If an employer wanted me to follow a script, the script I followed was an exit script. Why? You already know the answer! I made a <em>connection</em>, that <em>connection</em> led to a <em>relationship</em>, that <em>relationship</em> led to a <em>bond</em>, and the <em>bond</em> allowed for <em>trust</em>, the <em>trust</em> enabled the sales process to culminate in another <em>relationship</em>, one based on a <em>relationship</em> combined with self interest, the client’s <em>self</em> interest…not my S&#8230;E&#8230;L&#8230;F, and certainly not because I made a S…A…L…E!</p>
<p><strong>Internet Image and Social Media</strong></p>
<p>Inbound marketing is a process, it begins with a connection, the connection leads to a relationship, the relationship leads to a bond, and once a bond is formed, another type of relationship builds, a mutual one, one profitable to both parties. Social media is an integral component in the connection/relationship/bond building model, but just one aspect, one ingredient. In fact, there are several key components, all necessary if a traditional brick and mortar business is making the move to an online presence or an Internet marketing concern is stepping up its Internet image. In either case there is one absolute, social media is about the connection and the beginnings of a relationship, to achieve the next component, the bond, the business, offline or online, will require additional steps to ensure its success. In the upcoming three articles we will deal with the various aspects of social media, social bookmarking, and video-sharing sites. Next, in Part II, we will discuss the various social media platforms and how to best integrate them into what will become the ultimate Internet image!</p>
<p><strong>Contact The Ultimate Internet Image for a free comprehensive analysis!</p>
<p>Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr.<br />
216-712-6526<br />
Skype: johnzajaros1<br />
johnz@ultimateinternetimage.com </strong></p>
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		<title>What is The Ultimate Internet Image &amp; What Do We Do for Online &amp; Brick &amp; Mortar Businesses?</title>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:57:40 +0000</pubDate>
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		<description><![CDATA[The Ultimate Internet Image is a consulting and training company with one goal: Your complete satisfaction! We are involved in and focussed on the various social media networks and social bookmarking platforms. Additionally, we are involved in developing an innovative, complete, and up-to-date strategy to keep pace with current trends and in order to assure [...]]]></description>
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<p><strong>The Ultimate Internet Image is a consulting and training company with one goal: Your complete satisfaction! </strong></p>
<p>We are involved in and focussed on the various social media networks and social bookmarking platforms. Additionally, we are involved in developing an innovative, complete, and up-to-date strategy to keep pace with current trends and in order to assure you achieve The Ultimate Internet Image. We have just signed on a brilliant new programmer, already involved in creating social networking software geared towards simplifying and streamlining your online marketing experience. UII is focused on future, innovative applications development. The Ultimate Internet Image International is orientated towards marketing novices and newcomers, as well as seasoned marketing experts and software developers looking to stay abreast of the latest trends in inbound marketing.</p>
<p>Finally, The Ultimate Internet Image is an Internet marketing agency, an inbound marketing consultancy, and a digital marketing mastermind. UII can meet all of your web-based design requirements and assist you in meeting and overcoming your unique Internet application development challenges and concerns. The Ultimate Internet Image is also a full service SEO specialist, skilled in attraction and integration marketing, as well as various advertising strategies using Web 2.0 and social media networks and platforms.</p>
<p>Internet marketing is once again in a transitionary phase, shifting from a traditional, website centered approach, to a more complete and holistic blog and social media strategy. As discussed previously, this also entails a dynamic shift from an outbound, advertiser driven approach to consumer driven, inbound marketing. It is imperative both online and traditional brick and mortar businesses stay on top of this latest trend. UII will help you better understand and implement the various strategies necessary to achieve the ultimate online business presence.</p>
<p><strong>Remember:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Your Success is our Success!</p>
<p>We look forward to serving you in the near future. </p>
<p>Call, Skype or email for a free consultation today! </p>
<p>Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr.<br />
216-712-6526<br />
Skype: johnzajaros1<br />
johnz@ultimateinternetimage.com</strong></p>
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		<title>How to Build a Hub For Your Inbound Internet Marketing Campaign &#8211; Blogging and Social Media</title>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:03:25 +0000</pubDate>
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<p><strong>How to Build a Hub or a Linchpin for Your Inbound, Internet Marketing Campaign &#8211; Blogging and Social Media Marketing &#8211; The Ultimate Internet Image!</strong></p>
<p>There is a transition occurring today in the marketplace from an outbound, old media marketing strategy to an inbound, new media approach presents an interesting, challenging, and even profitable environment for business owners willing to incorporate and even embrace current transition. The shift from old to new, outbound, even intrusive marketing to an inbound, customer/client driven methodology appears to be profound and lasting. The current economic trend is challenging, and that&#8217;s putting it mildly. Yet even the most experienced entrepreneurs and Internet marketing specialists are grappling with the right strategy, the right combination of tools, necessary to survive this downturn. In order to survive, businesses must adapt, rethink, and redesign their current approach to advertising and marketing. As a result of our current economic challenges, businesses are finding it increasingly important, imperative, to develop and strengthen relationships, not only with prospective customers, but with their established customer base as well. Engaging in a relationship building strategy with customers they have already done business with at some point in the past is one of the most effective methods for improving a business&#8217;s overall profitability, while decreasing advertising costs. It is the established customer/client base, combined with a successful relationship building campaign that includes a number of tools and marketing platforms, that will ultimately lead to not only survival in the current economy but prosperity&#8230;in spite of it!</p>
<p><strong>The Emergence of the Weblog!</strong></p>
<p>The emergence of the weblog (web log) or blog, blogging in today&#8217;s parlance, revolutionized the way individuals communicate on the Internet. Significantly, what was once considered to be solely a social communication vehicle, almost a means to &#8220;gossip&#8221; on the web, quickly became the darling of the Internet for individuals and businesses alike. Today, everyone from the neighborhood grandmother talking about her most recent trip back east to see the grandchildren, to The Ford Motor Company and Skittles are blogging and the reasons are myriad. Blogging allows a connection between participants unlike anything I have witnessed in marketing to date.</p>
<p><strong>Marketing History: A Flashback to Bobby and Billy!</strong></p>
<p>In my 54 years I have weathered several recessions, a number of presidents, including a resignation and an assassination, and a couple of attempted ones, the Bobby Riggs and Billy Jean King marketing masterpiece, the &#8220;New Coke&#8221; marketing debacle, the ultimate political spin of the Clinton Presidency, and the annual marketing bonanza also known as the Super Bowl. However, I have never witnessed anything like the emergence of the &#8220;blogosphere.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>The Blogosphere? What the Heck is the Blogosphere?</strong></p>
<p>The blogosphere? Well, if we use Technorati&#8217;s definition &#8220;The blogosphere is the collective community of all blogs.&#8221; How many? As of Technorati&#8217;s August 2008 report on the state of the blogosphere there were 133 million blogs indexed by Technorati since 2002, with 1.5 million per week being added per week since then. Surely Technorati&#8217;s numbers have changed vastly in the last year but the fact is no one really knows how many blogs exist. There is however one undeniable fact, the blog is here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future.</p>
<p><strong>The Demographics of Blogging</strong></p>
<p>The face of the average blogger is a difficult one to perceive. The numbers grow and the demographics shift but the average blogger is male, over 25 years old, 50% of all bloggers are over 35 years of age, married, college educated, with an average yearly income of over $50,000, and 48% live in North America. Four out of every five people blogging, known as bloggers, identify themselves as personal bloggers. Interestingly, there is a great amount of overlap between bloggers, professional, corporate, and personal, with many designating themselves as two out of the three or all three. Almost half of all bloggers noted that they have had or continue to have multiple blogs, 60% of all bloggers having two or more years of blogging experience, with the average tenure being three years. Female bloggers make up 34% of active bloggers, males make up 73% of all bloggers in Asia, and the youngest blogging population seems to be in Europe, with half of all respondents being between the age of 18 and 34 years of age.</p>
<p><strong>The Emergence of Social Media</strong></p>
<p>With the emergence of social media, and the realization of the power social media marketing offers, including the mini-blog phenomena <em>Twitter</em> and <em>facebook</em>, the blog has maintained its pivotal role as the &#8220;hub spot&#8221; from which an increasing numbers of companies, from the mom and pop corner store to Fortune 100 corporations, are building inbound, Internet marketing campaigns. The blog offers the ideal platform for relationship building. Connecting with prospective clients, as well the current customer/client base in a way no other medium offers, the combination of the blog and various Web 2.0 platforms is both organic and dynamic. Blogging is a crucial component in any &#8220;new media,&#8221; inbound marketing strategy. Added to the blogging hub, the social media or Web 2.0 campaign offers an innovative and forward thinking approach to prospective customer and established customer relationship building never before offered in this way by a marketing strategy.</p>
<p><strong>What the Heck Happened to the Website?</strong></p>
<p>So, what happened to the website? Well, first of all a blog is a website! Yes, it is a website, and it&#8217;s not, at least not in the traditional sense of the word. Internet marketing has experienced a transition, a revolution of sorts, from the traditional website to the fresh and organic approach of the blog. The blog should be an integral part of any online marketing strategy. Blogging not only provides useful content for a business&#8217;s target audience, it also builds relationships and strengthens the connection between current customers and businesses engaged in this useful marketing strategy. The business blog has virtually, and literally, replaced the conventional website as many company&#8217;s primary customer/client communication vehicle, and rightly so. The combination of other media, along with the blog, as in the case of social media marketing mentioned above, offers an inbound marketing strategy, cost-effective and profitable, short and long-term.</p>
<p><strong>Weather the Storm and Prospering in the Current Economy!</strong></p>
<p>The question every business owner today must ask: &#8220;How do I develop a marketing strategy that will allow me weather the current economic storm?&#8221; The fact is many of the traditional marketing strategies, also referred to as outbound or old media advertising strategies have been replaced by inbound, new media marketing methods, with impressive and lasting results. The cost of new media marketing is substantially less than most traditional, outbound methods engaged in by traditional brick and mortar businesses today (e.g., television, radio, newspaper, etc.). Given the current economic climate, this certainly seems counter-intuitive. During a time when businesses large and small are struggling to stay afloat, it would seem prudent to engage in any strategy that promises to increase traffic while decreasing the cost of doing business. Additionally, the reduction in the cost of doing business associated with an inbound, new media marketing strategy is generally accompanied by an increase in revenue and an improved and strengthened customer/business connection. The benefits of the new media, inbound strategy are derived solely due to the blog as the central component, the linchpin or hub, driving the entire program and making the entire business more profitable and even prosperous, regardless of the current economy&#8230;or perhaps because of it.</p>
<p><strong>Why UII?</strong></p>
<p>The transition from traditional, outbound, old media marketing to an innovative, inbound, new media strategy is the focus of The Ultimate Internet Image, a new venture created to serve traditional brick and mortar businesses and Internet marketers alike. The Ultimate Internet Image focuses on an inbound marketing strategy while realizing that there is still power and usefulness in some outbound marketing media platforms. The UII marketing strategy creates a synergy, a synthesis of the old media with the new media in order to create a marketing plan designed specifically for the individual client, not a cookie-cutter, one size fits all approach so commonly seen online.</p>
<p><strong>Where Do I Find UII?</strong></p>
<p>The Ultimate Internet Image has offices in Maine, Florida, New York, Minnesota, Ohio, and Illinois, with more opening every week. We welcome you to explore the ultimate opportunity, as a client or as a director and owner. Contact information is available at The Ultimate Internet Image&#8217;s blog, listed below.</p>
<p><strong></strong><strong>We invite you to discover what it means to offer The Ultimate Internet Image!</strong></p>
<p><strong>Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr.<br />
216-712-6526<br />
Skype: johnzajaros1<br />
johnz@ultimateinternetimage.com</strong></p>
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		<title>The Ultimate Internet Marketing Image: A Synergy of Traditional Offline and Online Marketing Strategies</title>
		<link>http://ultimateinternetimage.com/the-ultimate-internet-marketing-image-a-synergy-of-traditional-offline-and-online-marketing-strategies/</link>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2009 01:04:13 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[Blogging for Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Internet Marketing and Social Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Internet Marketing and the Blog]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Ultimate Internet Image]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[There is a transition underway, a shift from traditional, offline or &#8220;outbound&#8221; advertising techniques to a synergy employing the best offline strategies and sophisticated online, Internet marketing platforms to engage the customer and prospective customer as never before. The marketing transition underway will yield increased customer traffic, lasting customer relationships, greater customer loyalty, and greater [...]]]></description>
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<p><strong>There is a transition underway, a shift from traditional, offline or &#8220;outbound&#8221; advertising techniques to a synergy employing the best offline strategies and sophisticated online, Internet marketing platforms to engage the customer and prospective customer as never before. The marketing transition underway will yield increased customer traffic, lasting customer relationships, greater customer loyalty, and greater prosperity in spite of the current economic downturn. </strong></p>
<p>There is a revolution is underway, a shift from traditional offline advertising, also referred to as “outbound advertising,” to online or “Internet” advertising. The transition has gained momentum as its popularity increases, becoming the medium of choice for business owners large and small, from the tiny “mom and pop” corner store to Fortune 100 companies. The reasons for this transition from traditional forms of advertising to new and innovative online strategies are complex and, at first glance, don’t appear to make much sense. However, once a company examines the logic, and even the psychology, behind this shift in focus and tests it, in almost every instance they are convinced of the power and profitability of the Internet, as not only a sales tool but as a client/customer relationship tool, as well. Unlike any strategy available prior to the Internet, the web provides easy and, in many cases, automatic access to customers and prospective customers alike, often at the push of a button.</p>
<p><strong>Outbound Advertising: Prospective Customer and Customer Antipathy</strong></p>
<p>Unlike many online methods of advertising and customer contact, traditional “outbound advertising” seeks out prospective clients by what can only be referred to as an invasive strategy, a strategy often resented by prospect and established customer alike. The company or advertising agency attempts to reach prospective clients through TV advertisements, radio ads, newspaper ads, direct mail, billboards, and so on. Significantly, many of the traditional types of advertising campaigns carry with them a negative connotation or stereotype, they are viewed with disdain and even contempt by the very people the ads are attempting to impress. Prospective clients and even established customers will use the time during television commercials to go to the rest room, get refreshments or do anything else but taken in the message advertisers have spent hundreds, even thousands and tens of thousands of dollars, for them to see. During radio commercials, listeners often change the station searching for music, getting annoyed when they can&#8217;t find a station playing music instead of ads. When a homeowner receives the mail delivery, they immediately throw away junk mail, referring to the trash receptacle as “file 13!” Readers of the morning paper will make a conscious effort to read or look &#8220;around&#8221; newspaper ads, focusing solely on the stories, the “Irish Sports Page,” the obituaries, and of course the funnies or comics. </p>
<p><strong>The Emerging Trend and the Beginning of a Revolution</strong></p>
<p>Enter the website! For years those savvy enough to realize early on that an Internet presence would pay dividends, unlike anything available through traditional, offline, “outbound” advertising, benefited from the greatest new tool available, the website! The website allowed for instant access to a business’s products and services unavailable through traditional advertising methods and vehicles without incredible expense and a cumbersome, if not unreadable, advertisement.  The website revolutionized product and service presentation, making it one of the most popular and affordable advertising platforms a business can employ to generate interest in their business and increase traffic to the traditional brick and mortar companies using them as part of an overall advertising strategy. Interestingly, the website evolved into a vehicle in direct competition with traditional businesses as online business took off. </p>
<p><strong>The Emergence of the Search Engine and <em>&#8220;Googling&#8221;</em></strong></p>
<p>The emergence of online business, and Internet marketing in general, changed forever the focus and the method of both advertising and the way business is conducted. With the emergence of the website, advertising changed from an “outbound” phenomenon to an “inbound,” client driven methodology. Prospective clients and customers began to look for, and actively search out, businesses and thus, with the emergence of the search engines, at first as simple as the first AOL and Webcrawlers and ultimately to The New King of the Hill, Google, marketing was revolutionized and changed forever. Google and “Googling” changed the way businesses are searched out and presented forever. Now, instead of an invasive form of advertising, “outbound advertising,” the client actively engages in the process of seeking out and finding businesses fitting their specific search criteria, their “keywords.” Google, Yahoo, MSN, Ask, and many others began to use keywords and complex algorithms, mathematical formulas, to establish rankings for companies with websites on the net, and the race was on. </p>
<p><strong>The Death of <em>The King</em>: Long Live <em>The King</em>!</strong></p>
<p>With the emergence of Google and Googling, “The King of the Outbound Advertising Hill,” the “Yellow Pages,” will never again see the glory days of the past. In fact, many a “Yellow Pages” advertising directory may be found, if it can be found at all, on the back porch collecting mold and mildew, in the garage under a pile of debris or in some closet or cabinet taking up space and never to be heard from again, at least until someone from the local school comes around as part of a recycling campaign and takes it off your hands. Thousands of dollars, collecting mold, dust, and not much else, while businesses in the know, those who have already made the transition to the Internet, have reduced or eliminated their expenses in return for a more innovative, relevant advertising strategy, one optimizing the best of the traditional, offline and online tactics to increase traffic, improve the company’s bottom line, and all the time reducing costs.</p>
<p><strong>SEO: What the Heck is SEO?</strong></p>
<p>SEO, search engine optimization, a complex and all-encompassing strategy used to influence and improve a company’s web presence through a number of strategies, soon became the darling of the “new Internet.” SEO also became the most sought after, least understood, and most expensive of all web services. To achieve optimal search engine rankings, companies paid thousands of dollars in an attempt to understand, manipulate, and ultimately conquer their respective “niche,” competitive environment, and target market and audience. Traditional SEO continues to play a role in many business’ overall Internet marketing strategies. However, the time and cost of a fully optimized search engine optimization campaign, complete with website and/or blog enhancements, has made it somewhat less attractive, particularly in light of current economic trends.</p>
<p><strong>A Transition within a Transition</strong></p>
<p>Interestingly, there is a shift underway in Internet marketing, as well. We will touch on this transition within a transition here and in subsequent articles. For many years now, online advertising has been all about the website. In fact, when an Internet consultant interviews a prospective client for the first time, a “website” is the first thing most business owners, advertising vice presidents, company presidents, and even CEOs ask for.  However, the once requisite website has been usurped, no longer the King of the Internet Mountain, by the blog. Blogs and blogging represent the fastest segment of the Internet, with <em>Twitter’s</em> mini-blog format and <em>facebook’s</em> family friendly, community atmosphere and approach running alongside; and, both taking the net by storm.  The blog is a marketing sensation for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that it allows for an intimate and ongoing exchange between the advertiser and the client and prospective client alike. The relationship building feature of the blog, organic in nature, results in a connection building process unlike anything available in any other single form of expression today.</p>
<p><strong>The One-Two Punch: Blogging and Social Media</strong></p>
<p>The relationship building capabilities of the blog, coupled with an intelligent overall strategy fully engaging the emerging power of social media, also referred to as Web 2.0, and a thoughtfully designed and properly incentivized email campaign, make it far and away the most promising new advertising vehicle available to businesses today, big and small. Interestingly, even companies like Skittles and Diet Coke are entering the social media milieu in a big way. Diet Coke now has a significant following on Twitter, yet nothing compared to the followings of President Barack Obama, CNN, Time Magazine, and The New York Times. Significantly, The New York Times, CNN, and Time Magazine have a multitude of blogs, all focused on various topics of interest to their readers, their target audience. The visual and print media companies have demonstrated the power, and indeed the necessity, of communicating directly with various segments of their audience through blogging, targeting them based on interest, and developing a loyal following as a result. </p>
<p><strong>The Skittles Revolution</strong></p>
<p>Skittles leads the revolution! Skittles has a small but active following on Twitter but it is their move to YouTube that is really opening eyes. Linked to their Twitter account, Skittles has moved to establish a profound and significant social media presence. The staggering fan base on facebook is actually the most interesting aspect of this story. With nearly 3,000,000 fans on facebook alone, there can be little doubt of social media’s power to create and maintain customer loyalty. Skittles has gone so far as to integrate a “squeeze” or “capture” page leading to their various Internet marketing platforms. While there are other companies fully engaged in an Internet marketing combination strategy, such as that engaged in by Skittles, the candy merchandiser has demonstrated an online marketing sophistication leaving many of the company’s competitors in the online dust. The use of mini-blogging, both on facebook and Twitter, along with video marketing, and the use of a “capture page” to collect data they are interested in, indicates and overall Internet marketing strategy capable of moving Skittles ahead of its competition. Interestingly, Ford Motor has engaged a social media manager, Scott Monty, who maintains, among other Web 2.0 platforms, a growing Twitter following just shy of 6500 and a loyal fan base on facebook, as well. </p>
<p><strong>Old or New? Struggle or Prosperity?</strong></p>
<p>There can be little doubt as to the magnitude of the transition underway in advertising and marketing today. Significantly, there is a transition within a transition taking place; and, blogging and social media are emerging as a powerful one-two punch designed to build customer loyalty and shape buying behaviour as never before. The powerful relationship building tools available to companies engaged in online marketing offer a promise never before possible through traditional marketing strategies and “outbound” advertising media. Those businesses unable or unwilling to keep pace and go with the current trend will be left outside looking in as marketing strategies continue to evolve and improve. The “blogosphere,” particularly as it relates to a business’s target market or audience, social media or Web 2.0, the use of sophisticated relationship building strategies, such as email autoresponder campaigns, and various search engine optimization techniques (SEO), will provide businesses engaged in the Internet marketing revolution an opportunity to grow and prosper, in spite of the current economic down turn. For the rest? It will be a long, hot summer!</p>
<p><em><strong>Look for our next article: The Ultimate Website and the Blog: Blogosphere, Web 2.0, and the Autoresponder &#8211; The Ultimate Internet  Marketing Revolution Continues!</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>Let Our Family Serve Your Family!</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>Professor John P. J. Zajaros, Sr.<br />
CEO and Founder<br />
Skype: johnzajaros1<br />
johnz@ultimateinternetimage.com</strong></p>
<p><strong>See also and more to follow:</strong><br />
<a href="http://ultimateinternetimageillinois.com"><strong>Our Illinois Internet Image Director and Partner: All Garretson</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="http://ultimateinternetimageflorida.com"><strong>Our Florida Internet Image Directors and Partners: Brandie Rose Bushwitz and Harry Bushwitz</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="http://ultimateinternetimagemaine.com"><strong>Our Maine Internet Image Director and Partner: Lisa Sawyer</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="http://ultimateinternetimageminnesota.com"><strong>Our Minnesota Internet Image Director and Partner: Stephen Jankowski</strong></a></p>
<p><a href="http://ultimateinternetimagenyrd.com"><strong>Our New York Internet Image Director and Partner: Ross Diamond</strong></a></p>
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