Do you know What is 'Contextual Marketing?'

Use of internet and digital devices has become a centre point in business - specially for marketing. Unless managers at sales and market departments are laced with apps and aids available to boost their business and bring business to their organizations, they will always be lagging behind than others.

There are many aids available online - and one of these is Contextual Marketing!!

Todd Wasserman at Mashable contends that there's always a context to your marketing, just like there's a context to every action. You could argue that you're a proponent of contextual walking if you can explain the reasoning and circumstances around your perambulations. Contextual eating, meanwhile, occurs whenever you can furnish information about the setting and thoughts that went behind each bite.

David Jacobs, consumer protection counsel for the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a watchdog group, says:

"I believe contextual marketing refers to advertising that's designed to align with the media property in which it appears. For example, if you're browsing Auto Trend then you'll see ads for cars and motor oil. If you're watching Bridezillas then you might see ads for feminine products. And so on.

What do you think? Think more about Contextual Marketing and see how can it benefit your business!!

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Top 10 Marketing Blog Posts of 2012

Well the year 2012 is finally over, despite Mayans scaring us of their end of the world theory. We now enter a new year, and hope it to be peaceful without worries of end  of calendar or the final 'The End.'

But we must peep back and see what all good things happened in 2012 beside the Mayan scare, and we find some very well written blogs as for marketing is concerned. I came across a list of Top 20 best marketing blogs, of which I am sharing the top 10 for the information of marketeers and businessmen who may find these handy in working out their marketing strategies and business dealings.

Here we go:
1. Like it, Pin it, Sell it. Why Pinterest Matters for Your Business
2. 5 Lessons from the Chick-fil-a PR Kerfuffle
3. 9 Mistakes We Make with Our Email Marketing
4. 12 Steps to Becoming a Natural at SEO pt. 1
5. DIY: 5 Tools for Creating Killer Infographics

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6. The Customer is Not Always Right
7. It’s Not You, It’s Outlook – The Complete Guide for Email Marketers
8. 5 Must Knows for SEO
9. Calling All NonResponders – Don’t Give up on Them Yet!
10. Subject Line Length – Is Longer Better?

You may reads details of other 11-20 blogs at Vertical Response. I have deliberately not included the rest of the 10 so that efforts of Colleen Corkery is a Marketing Associate at Vertical Response may be complemented for taking pains to tabulate these 20 blogs from a voluminous list of unlimited blog post from the net.

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Turning Towards Guerilla Tactics

Guerrilla tactics have been applied to marketing for as long as marketing has existed, and they've been applied to warfare for as long as war has existed. People, brands, and armies have resorted to using them for a variety of reasons: they’re outgunned, outnumbered, out-budgeted, etc. These tactics give the ability to work around the biggest obstacles and to level the playing field.

All around the world you’ll find brand’s in similar conditions. Not in the state of revolution and war, but struggling to find a way to work around a significant disadvantage.

There is no shortage of competition in any market and as a result new brands and smaller brands find themselves hitting a wall when it comes to establishing their share of the market. As a result we’ve been forced to look at thing a little differently. Below are some of the guerilla tactics modern brands are using to win today:

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• Hyper Specialization
• Community Building
• Storytelling

Haven’t you been “listening”? We need customers who have influence, online and off to survive. Word of mouth marketing has always been the most effective way to grow a brand and that will never change. What has changed, is that our customers now have a more measurable influence in the digital space.

The time to strike is now! While big brands with big budgets continue to push their resources through traditional media with traditional tactics we can move in and carve out chunks of their market share before they even know what hit them.

Read more about the three brands of Guerrilla Tactics at: Marketing Apocalypse

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Search Engine Marketing

SAJ Shirazi

Great strength of the World Wide Web search is that it can locate out vast amounts of products matching to what any user may be asking for. The great weakness is that the product may not be like anything close to what user had asked for. However, constantly evolving search technologies and the ways people are using them are transforming not just the markets but the mindset of consumers as well. Consumers are increasingly embracing new ways of communication; take greater ownership of information and aggregating in increasingly specialized niche online communities. Marketers also need to shift their approach if they want to connect with them. That is possible through aggressive Search Engine Marketing.

Diagram credit: CPC Computer Consultants

How do any search technologies work? Search engines locate selected range of Web pages that contain words matching search keyword(s) or phrase(s). Search engines automatically try to sort the results so that only handful of the most relevant matches is presented. Every search engine searches own pre indexed database and works using own set of rules called algorithm – a closely guarded trade secret. It is in this milieu that Search Engine Marketing comes in to play and help marketers get their products or services found in searches.

Literally speaking Search Engine Marketing (SEM) is a form of Internet marketing that seeks to promote Websites by increasing their visibility in search engine result pages. This can be done through search engine optimization, paid placements, paid inclusions, social media or combination of all these methods. One commonly asked question is how important is search engine marketing?

Given the fact that digital technologies are no longer preserves of tech savvy early adopters only, and today ordinary users are integrating them seamlessly into their lives, a simple answer is that every business need to have a powerful online presence online. Many eCommerce sites fail simply because when users search, products or services they are offering appear on the tail end of search results and most users are never likely to dig them down from the bottom. That happens because some businesses have passive wait and see SEM policies. As recent report estimates, “only seven percent of all businesses play online truly, ninety three percent just do not understand it, they do not get it or they do not believe in it.” But this is a must have business process, particularly for those who want to play online.

In essence, the ultimate goal is to increase exposure and revenue. Businesses may have an excellent product or a service; might have invested in functional website, there is not much of a benefit unless they gain exposure in search engines. An aggressive SEM approach will produce results in a timely fashion, and manner while eliminating a lengthy trial of search result pages.

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Gone are the days where conventional four ‘Ps’ of marketing or press releases guaranteed success. Now businesses need to engage with their customers. Give them reasons to come to visit your website, and once they are there give them reasons to return back again and again. SEM supported website turns into a hub, stuffed with remarkable blog posts, videos, interviews and more information (manufacturers are also putting users’ manual of their products online these days). Business need to match practical wisdom with the shift in consumers’ mindset to survive in this new online world.

Getting found in search engines results is complex but necessary; choose the tools that work best for your business, future proof your business by staying ahead of the digital marketing trends and you can harness the power of the Internet to take your business ahead in the massive and ever expanding market.

There are really no shortcuts in SEM. One of the problems with many eCommerce websites is duplicate content. Many businesses are selling similar products (or products from the same manufacturer) so the product descriptions found on their websites are generally formulaic and repetitive. Search engines are known to be sensitive to duplicate content and do not even register the website with similar content what to talk of bringing it up in visible results. Another major problem with eCommerce websites is that they do not have a lot of content in the first place. Businesses need to give the search engines enough content to read so that the website gets pulled to match more search queries. One best way to do this is to include product reviews by consumers on the products pages (like good example of Amazon.com). This gives the search engines more content to read and this also creates a third party endorsement for any product. People are truly social when it comes to shopping online. They want and look for other users’ opinions before they buy. A real consumer review goes a long way in convincing someone to act.

Brilliant as Web search engines are, the search technology is still evolving. It has not reached the point where humans and machines understand each other well enough to communicate clearly. People are already more perceptive and are demanding better results, and they are demanding a more powerful search experience. Given the developments taking place, economic importance being attached to the Web searches, one thing is certain: search technologies have to go much beyond what they are today. We are likely to see some seismic changes in the field. My recommendation: have an aggressive SEM policy and get found whenever some users tries query related to your business.

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13 Location-Based Marketing Tips for Entrepreneurs

Scott Gerber is the founder of the Young Entrepreneur Council, a nonprofit organization that promotes youth entrepreneurship as a solution to unemployment and underemployment. The YEC provides young entrepreneurs with access to tools, mentorship, and resources that support each stage of a business’s development and growth.

You want to deliver marketing content that packs a punch and drives sales, but you don’t have a lot of money to spread around. You might want to consider geo-targeting, aka location-based marketing.

Check out these 13 tips for leveraging geo-targeting from successful, young entrepreneurs that have already tackled these questions, and more.

1. MarketMeSuite
2. Get Someone on the Ground
3. Enhance your SEO with Geo-Targeting Tactics
4. Localize Your Website
5. Make People Feel at Home
6. The Tweets Next Door
7. Look Good on Mobile
8. Get Good at Free Tools
9. Facebook Ads: A Favorite for Geo-Targeting
10. Use Geo-Targeting for Low-Cost, Impulse Items
11. Geotoko
12. Scoutmob & Dealmap
13. Tweak Your Offers

Read in detail about each above at: Mashable

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How to break the “NO” or negative news

In business, saying no is very difficult as it usually hurts clients and may turn them away forever. But, sometimes saying NO or declining an offer or even announcing a critical delay in shipment becomes inevitable – so what to do in that situation? Well this has to be dealt with very carefully, intelligently and with a bit of shrewdness.

Often, the usual approach is to send an e-mail or a letter, thus shielding behind words and letters rather than facing the client or customer in a manner that ensures a no-hurt feeling besides retaining the client as well.

Here a few tips that may work out a safer strategy rather than a grudging client storming into your office and @#$%%%@@##, you know what I mean.

• First of all a NO to a proposal, offer or suggestions should never be sent electronically or through courier a service. Receiving a rejection through an indirect means can act like a bombshell, or could even cause a stroke if the client was hinging everything on the deal in question. So what to do? Well good companies always call over the clients over a cup of tea for “discussion” on the proposal or deal and then very intelligently creating an atmosphere in which the client is readied to listen to a decline or a rejection. This way one may win over the heart of the client in favour of the company who could tell others of the “graciousness” of your staff for having called them over rather than sending a usual rejection letter.
• These days, there is trend of sending a custom made reply to customers or clients through e-mails of saying a NO or anything to that effect. This shows a non-personal and mechanical approach, devoid of sentiments and that personal touch that c company must establish with its clients and customers. Some clients or customers consider such acts as disinterested approach and company’s inability to reach out to its customers or clients personally. Wouldn't it be better to as the customer services to pick up a telephone and talk it over personally? The bigger or more the potential level of client, more level should be raised in the company to establish a contact. It would be equally bad for a lower staff to talk to a CEO of the company on the other end. Ask some senior manager to do this.
• Good companies never commit serious issues or matters in writing that could later become an embarrassment. Even such matter should not be discussed on telephones as these can be taped. So either sue a personal contact or use the company’s “chat” facility using internet as this cannot be copied for later reproduction to embarrass you on some forum or even legally.

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• Likewise a written excuse sent either through e-mail or postal service can be used by a rival company in their favour and to your discredit. If the shipment is being delayed or an order cannot be honoured in the stipulated time frame, use direct means that cannot be recorded. All written actions will be treasure in the hands of rivals, who would know the state of affairs in your company, such as delays in shipment due to financial constraints or non-availability of raw material etc. So be on the lookout how to make an excuse for a delay which doesn't harm your company’s interests.
• And last of all, if you happen to be interacting with a nasty client or customer, who is delaying shipments or payments, do not send a deadline or an ultimatum in writing. Such actions should always be talked over across the table as one may find at the end that a discussion finally made the other party succumb to your concerns and agreed to deliver the shipment in time or make the payments as earlier agreed. Having your legal aide by your side would be an added advantage as he could interject with legal options which the other party may not be taking into consideration.

These are just a few tips of resorting to a more personal touch rather than using any type of mails to do business with your partners, clients and customers. You will find these much to your advantage both in management of clients as well as raising the confidence of all those who are in business with you. 

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A day at the Stock Exchange

A friend sent me the following "self explanatory" description of what happens on a busy day in the stock exchanges around the world. Its worth watching!!!

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Promotional Products

By: Farrukh Baig

Promotional products play an important role in brand awareness. To achieve required results, promotional products must be carefully planned, taking into consideration the audience, budget. One of the tactics in the marketer's bag is imprinting a logo or message on a promotional product. It increase brand awareness of products and services. Successful promotion campaigns don’t happen by chance. To get attention different kinds of economical and high-utility attractive promotional products are used. For brand recognition you should offer products which are handy can be used on daily basis. For getting good results you should hire an experienced company. These products should be handy and convenient and thus people will love to use them. Promotional products are so common that even marketing pros often take them for granted.

Promotional ad specialties should be creativity, innovation and imagination to your overall program to achieve your goals. You can find a mug online, but ad specialties can find hundreds of mugs, in a multitude of colors, sizes, shapes, materials, designs, and saved money if you get the right mugs. It allows you to get your company's message across on T-shirts, calendars, or even fine crystal, and your next promotion will make a lasting impression. But that can be a problem if you use them carelessly, not only because it wastes money but because it means you're overlooking ways to use them creatively in your marketing program.

There are a number of products that can be imprinted for promotional purposes. The individual need to do is search a gift which can accomplish its advertising demand and come up at desired budget. At the low end are ballpoint pens, T-shirts, and calendars. The high end typically includes such items as golf bags, cameras, and crystal bowls. Similarly some of the popular promotional gifts include promotional apparel, writing instruments, bags, desk accessories, sporting goods and so on. They're used as giveaways at trade shows and other events, on-pack and in-pack premiums, container premiums, mail-in premiums, door-openers, dealer-loaders, sales incentives, business gifts, contest prizes, direct-mail premiums, and awards. It is advised to order for products which can be imprinted. Imprinted products exhibit your company's name, logo and URL easily.

Distribution of a promotional product is as important as the item itself. Research shows that a carefully executed distribution plan significantly increases the effectiveness of promotional products. These products are mainly distributed at places like exhibitions, conventions, seminars and trade shows. Sometimes, such products are also given to employees so as to recognize their work and loyalty towards the company. Seminars, conventions, exhibitions, and trade show are considered as perfect for distributing gifts as there are possibilities of visiting numerous prospective customers.

It is recommended to distribute promotional merchandises at places like exhibitions, conventions, seminars and trade shows. Such places are considered as perfect for distributing gifts as there are possibilities of visiting numerous prospective customers. Sometimes, such products are also given to employees so as to recognize their work and loyalty towards the company. After receiving gifts, employees get motivated.

Author Resource:- So whether you require Promotional Items now or in the future, Digitized Logos has a wealth of knowledge and experience of Promotional Products and Business Gifts.

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