• When sending your Newsletter, customize it. Never use the TO field on your e-mail message, to write the e-mail addresses of all your customers, no one likes this, it helps spammers build up data bases for their operations.

• Always include a way to unsubscribe to your newsletter and answer every time they contact you.

• When you have new candidates for your Newsletter, always ask for their permission, and of course, add a way to subscribe to it on your Web site.

• Every time you prepare a newsletter, check every link on it, make sure they work and they take you where they are intended to take you. Using the full URL is the best way, and looks much better on your newsletter.

• If you are promoting yourself, your business or products, don’t call it newsletter, unless you include informative articles and things your customers and potential customers might enjoy reading on a weekly or monthly basis.

A newsletter is a wonderful way to keep in touch with your customers and inform them about every possible news on your business and show them you are a professional on what you do, by providing them with information related to what your business does, even if it’s not strictly about your company.

A Newsletter will keep your customers close and bring your prospects closer. So, if you need help with the designing of your newsletter, our team of professional designers is highly trained in this. Our philosophy of ‘design first’ is still proving success when applied to business. Just call us today at 1-800-932-2580.

As you know, mobile devices are constantly increasing their functionalities; they’re now more like a handheld computer than a wireless telephone and worldwide cellulars are reaching up to 4 billion subscriptions.  People don’t basically need to be at home or work to be in touch with the Internet world. Internet is now everywhere: on the subway, the bus, at the airport or even at the cinema. There is an increasing need of the customers to be online all day long checking their emails or reading the news; due to our informatics lifestyle combined with sophisticated little wanders. As a consequence of this technological advance, online businesses are also affected. How can you take advantage of the benefits of Mobile Marketing strategies?

The most important thing to point out is that Mobile Marketing allows you to have a direct, constant and personal contact with your current customers and prospects. In addition, we can also mention these advantages:

1) Cost-effective: Mobile Marketing campaigns allows you to reach a wider audience without a big effort. They’re easy to create and execute, you will be able to enter to the cell phone market without spending a fortune. As there’s no need to pay for printing, air time or postage, the investment risk is really low. Moreover, you can integrate and mix new ways of advertisement with your existing ones in order to boost your brand communication!

2) Immediacy: Mobile marketing campaigns are created and executed easily. You can deliver your customized message within a few seconds, and in most of the cases the users will get and read it as fast as you send it. No need to wait or negotiate room for advertising!

3) Interactivity and effectiveness: It allows having a more effective two-way communication channel. You can easy choose your target demographically and geographically and be pretty sure they will receive your message just the way you sent it. Additionally, it’s believed that mobile messages have a higher rate of response than the ones you send to customer’s direct emails.

4) Measurable results: You can easily determine your Return on Investment (ROI) by analyzing your numbers of visits and messages which have been answered, as well as downloads, page visits, customer opt-ins and other methods.

5) Domino effect: If you get to create an emotion in the receiver, he or she will want to transmit it. That’s free publicity for you. When someone gets a text message, he or she has the impression of being the only one getting it. Then, if receivers think it’s worth it, they will talk to friends and family about it. So make it worth it! Be creativity because not all the Mobile devices have the same possibilities.

6) Memorable Content: Mobile advertising is all about the message content. The user will usually remember what he or she reads; but beware of lettering, data hierarchy and legibility. Enhance your content with presents to your users; ringtones, useful information or anything you know your possible customer will appreciate.

Being highly interactive, easy to operate, measurable, personalized and inexpensive; Mobile Marketing is getting popular among new marketing strategies and best practices, but it must be point out that it can also be dangerous when overused. You should be smart with the time and frequency of your messages. You should find equilibrium between being in touch with your customers in a personalized way and avoid the fact of annoying them. If you are too invasive, then your Mobile Marketing Campaign may fail.

So now that you know, think of your client as the lovely girl at the bar and don’t let her go without getting her number!

Let us bring you up-to-date on what is happening. Read some of these news!

Mobile Texting Opportunities

Nokia and Intel to Pair Up on Mobile Devices

Microsoft’s Operating System For Mobiles Faces A Tough Fight

New Dell Mobile Devices A Dubious Prospect

Event-based mobile marketing is an ‘undeniable trend’, says MMA

Sources

Rodnay, N. (2009, Apr 27).  Mobile Marketing Overview.

MMA. (2009, July 1). U.S. Consumer best Practices Guidelines V 4.0 – PDF doc

Arimaan Global Consulting (2008) Influence of mobile technology in business growth - PDF doc

Segan, Sascha (2009, July 2). The Top 5 Mobile Products of the Past 5 Years

The objective of Google is to make a very light-weighted and quick starting operating system that will support Google’s Chrome Browser. Now, you are probably wondering why they are releasing such a system if your notebook already has access to Google applications. Well, Chrome 0S will have lots of benefits to offer:

1) Cost and Speed: Firstly, as most Google products, Chrome OS will be for FREE. Secondly, and most importantly, it is specially designed for notebooks and low-powered processors. So, speed is guaranteed as the system focuses on this type of devices.

2) Compatibility and Portability. You won’t have to spend many hours configuring your device to be able to use Chrome OS. You will be able to instantly download and incorporate it into your computer without any problems. Moreover, Chrome will build and have offline access to all your Google services via Google Gears. In this way, you will always be informed and updated with the latest information.

Will Google finally win the battle against Microsoft? Chrome OS represents a huge advance, a big step towards conquering the up to now untouchable Microsoft land: its operating system. Their main argument is the fact that as most of Google’s services, Chrome OS will be for free. They believe that customers do not have to pay expensive for programs. In this sense, they will probably win lots of new customers. But, what’s next? If Chrome OS is a success and they are planning to move to Desktops will customers abandon their Windows habits?  For Chrome to be successful, Google will have to create a counterpart of Office. It will be very hard for them to change years and years of “tradition”. But, the truth is that Microsoft didn’t have a great success either with Windows Vista or Windows 7. It seems that Google is slowly advancing and gaining territory on new grounds.

We will have to wait to see which of the giants will win. For the moment, we can say that last Tuesday’s announcement represents a big step for the “free revolution” on the operating system field. And this revolution my friends, extremely stresses and disturbs Microsoft, doesn’t it!?

Sources:

Google Announces PC Operating System to Compete with Windows

Google takes on Microsoft with operating system

Five Things Google’s Chrome OS Will Do for Your Notebook

The battle ahead: Google Chrome OS vs. Microsoft ‘Windows 8′

Beyond money, budgets, and quality products; the most important thing in business is the people that make it possible… and they will make it as long as they’re well chosen. To hire the perfect fit for your needs is not a piece of cake. Half of hiring decisions are a mistake, has found a research by The Recruiting Roundtable… small business definitely can’t afford to hire the wrong match. Hiring is more or less expensive depending on the hiring process, it implies the cost of placing an advertisement, hiring a placement agency or consultant, purchasing working tools, all the costs of personnel involved in recruitment process and the spent of time.

Like a lot of other things, when it goes online, it goes cheaper and easier. There’re nowadays a lot of ways to find the right talent through the Net. Hiring platforms online really make it easier to start and finish a perfect person’s research and not die trying.

These applications help you save money and time pre-screening job candidates, organize their data and exam results, implement tests online, present the hiring process of every candidate, and even compare candidate qualifications. All that without hiring a hiring person!

Digital resumes are no longer the main element while job searching and hiring. Performs on social media networks are getting the business world’s attention. For example, LinkedIn, the most popular business network has a bunch of applications oriented to present yourself in the job searching level.

Other online tools like ClearFit are specially designed to make hiring a success, especially for small and medium business (any company can afford the price, it’s even free for many users). Ben Baldwin, co-founder of ClearFit, assures their software instantly matches the right people with the right jobs, based on personality and experience, so employers can hire people who fit and improve their employees’ performance and they actually guarantee results!

If you’re actually looking for fresh air, there’s a new trend among universities, the e-portfolio not very known yet by many employers and is not that usual in recruitment and selecting processes, but it actually demonstrates students’ learning and competency. Consider it if it’s your willing to innovate and treat with young creativity. Read more about this topic.

Think twice before choosing your own hiring process, remember any person you take is an investment and it’d better be a good one! Or like one of Baldwin’s clients said to him ”if you’re hiring someone in this economy and can’t afford to make a mistake, make sure they’re a clear fit.”

Sources:

• Goldfield, B. (2009). How to Find and Hire the Right Person
• Sirbasku, J. (2009). Improve Your Hiring Process to Cut Costs.
• Wonderlic, C. (2008). Organize Your Hiring Via The Internet.
• Ward, C. (2008). E-Portfolios as a Hiring Tool: Do Employers Really Care?.

Internet has changed the way sales and commercial transactions occur. But, still human beings are the ones sitting behind each monitor.

Ben Shneiderman, an expert in Computer Studies and Software Psychology from the University of Maryland, clearly argues in the book “Human Factors and Web” that the main challenge for e-merchants is to bridge the gap between what customers want and how to successfully achieve sales in a secure and trustworthy online environment. Nowadays, it seems that businesses still have a lot of work to do in the “Human Face Department”. Personal touch is becoming an increasing demand among online shoppers.

Did you know that 77% of US Internet users, who made an online purchase in the past six months, would be interested in any help from a real person before buying certain things on the Web?

3 things that you have to know:

• Customers still trust and like shopping the old and traditional way
• Any levels of automation cannot replace the human touch
• Customers may have doubts, and they are always looking forward to hearing that voice that says: It looks perfect on you or this is what you really need!

What to do then?

• Listen to your customer needs and preferences.
• Provide alternative channels of communication such as a telephone contact, e-mail or, even a Live Chat. For instance, with a Live Chat the customers can instantly contact a person and clarify their doubts. In this way, they will not only feel safer, but they will also feel that they actually (and not virtually) are inside your shop. How many times did you ask a salesman or woman if a dress or a pair of shoes looks good on you? In this sense, Live Chat can be an efficient tool that will help you have a human face online. Online shoppers who had used live chat were more likely to make online purchases at least once a week (40%) than shoppers who had never used it, according to this study by Bold Software. In addition, those shoppers who hadn’t used live chats were likely to make infrequent online purchases.
• Make sure that each conversation is customized.
• Be assured that your online salesmen have the best possible attitude towards selling and generating a friendly and personal environment.
• Hey! Build your human face online NOW!

Sources:

• Human Factors and Web
• IMshopping Adds a Human Touch to Online Shopping
• Does your E-commerce need Human Assisted Shopping?
• How Helpful Is Live Chat?
• Online Shoppers Want Human Helping Hand

1. Cool homepages. This Web site provides tips about Web design, Flash design, resources and examples on how to get inspired, how to promote your business and choose the right color palette. Furthermore, you can link into other inspirational Web sites.

2. The Best Designs. Web sites from all around the globe are recognized in this page. They are categorized by CSS or Flash or by elements of design. It receives about 300,000 page impressions per month. TDB has also been feature as one of the “Top Ten Design Resources” by the “How Design Magazine”.

3. CSS Remix. It is definitely a prime destination of everyone who needs some inspiration. You can see a great collection of a wide variety of Web designs. You can also rate each of the designs that has been submitted.

4. Colour Lovers. It monitors and influences color trends. You can compare color palettes, summit news and comments and read color related articles.

5. Screenalicio.us. It’s a place where you can get familiar with excellent Web sites  and get inspired in order to create innovative work from your own. It has almost 10,000 designs to observe. Users can rate the designs and sort them based on ratings and time submitted.

6. Deviant Art. It is a very complete Web site for professional creatives. You can find photos, paintings, icons, wallpapers and doodles. It has an artistic orientation that can help you get inspired.

7. Logopond. Logos are the main design content of every business. If you want to get inspired you should definitely visit this Web site. You can see which ones are highly rated and those that have become favorites.

8. Design in Europe. This site offers a wide selection of Europe’s best well-designed personal, experimental and corporate Web sites. You can find plenty of portfolios, pictures, books and directories. You can read design news by country as well.

9. 3DM3. Here you can find information about computer graphics, animations, interviews and high 3-D design.

10. 404 Pages. Although these are error Web sites, they can be useful regarding inspiration. Check them out! Maybe you can acquire some ideas and trends in order to build your own creative work.

What are you waiting for? You can find a huge number of inspirational ideas that can help you have the best Web design ever and build a truly successful and attractive Web site.

Skype

Buy Skype Credit now to make cheap calls internationally. With Skype you can make free voice calls between Skype users and you can even have a SkypeIn number… yes! A “real” phone numbers in many locations worldwide. It’s also convenient for multi-person conferencing and file sharing. You can use video chat and you download thousands of additional applications as well!

Gizmo5

With Gizmo5 you can make Internet calls anywhere without downloading anything. As well as Skype, PC-to-PC calls are for free. You can share photos, videos and other files from your cell phone or computer. Video Calls and 2-way text messaging are available directly from your Gizmo5 account. You can also get as many local numbers in more than 28 countries you want, just buying a Call In number. Good to know: There are no additional charges to receiving calls.

VZOchat

Have high quality video chat with up to 120 people in VZOchat! Yes, you’re right: It’s great for conferences. There could be up 2 places on a tribune and 120 people in a hall. All of them see these two places. In addition, all participants can send short text messages to everyone or to a certain participant.

Windows Live Hotmail

This instant messaging program not only let you chat with your friends, but also automatically find out what your contacts have been doing. You can play games, share pictures and files and even send messages to cell phones. Classify your contacts in different categories such as work, friends, college, etc. so your MSN is more organized!

AIM

As you know, with AIM you can send messages instantly. Interestingly, the Lifestream feature lets you keep in touch with your AIM contacts and know what they are exactly doing by allowing you to add different accounts such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, among others. It’s simple… for instance, leave a comment on a friend’s AIM Lifestream, then it will be posted to Facebook or Twitter.

Gtalk

With Gtalk you can send instant text messages and have a free PC-to-PC voice chat with your contacts in real time. Sending and receiving a voicemail is possible when you or your contacts aren’t available. You can also send files without any sizes or bandwidth restrictions!

Yahoo Messenger

You can send instant message to friends on Yahoo! and Windows Liveâ„¢ Messenger and decide who can see you online with the stealth settings. Want to share photos and files? You can do it up to 2GB in real-time. Make free PC-to-PC calls voice calls, enjoy webcam video and leave free voicemails to your friends.

iChat

iChat is an instant messaging application that works with your MobileMe and AIM account. Whether you are on a Mac or a PC, iChat makes it easy to communicate with text and video. You will also enjoy tabbed chats, multiple logins, SMS forwarding and file transfer manager, among other features.

Facebook chat

Facebook helps you communicate with your friends in real-time directly in the browser. It shows your online friends, so you don’t need to a separate buddy list.

MySpace IM

MySpace instant message lets you chat with your MySpace friends, and receive alerts and latest events.

eBuddy

This web messenger supports different instant messaging services such as Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo!, Google Talk, AIM, Facebook, ICQ, and MySpace IM. If you want to use eBuddy, you don’t have to download or install any software!

Note: This list will be always updated and reviewed every month.

Did you know that two-thirds of US households use coupons, according to a recent research by Experian (a global leader provider of information, analytical tools to help you manage the risk and reward of commercial and financial decisions)?

In addition, the number of people using online coupons has grown 46% in the last three years. Moreover, Experian reported that 80% of online coupon mailings had higher transaction-to-click rates and transaction rates than non-coupon campaigns.

So, if you are willing to attract more customers, you should definitely consider a coupon campaign. Using coupons for your e-mail marketing can help you increase your popularity and sales. How can e-merchants improve their coupon strategies?  Well, let’s see!

• Urgency. If your coupons are open-ended and they don’t have an expiration date, then they won’t be a motivation for your customer. Indicating a specific period of time on which they can obtain the benefit is of crucial importance… if you really want to catch their attention.

• General or specific? You have to think if you want your coupons to be personalized. This strategy may help you build an exclusive and unique approach with your target audience. But, personal ties will make your business spend a lot of time. For that reason, you should consider forward to a friend coupons. You will be able to reach a wider audience. You can be general, specific or both depending on the occasion!

• Timing is important. If you send too many coupons, then your customers will always be expecting an offer. Throw them out on special occasion, a few times a year.

Okay, so these are some important tips you should have in mind when you implement an e-coupon marketing strategy. Everyone is taking care of their wallet, so look after and satisfy your customer’s needs.

Sources:

E-coupons Part 2: Best practices

Coupons Boost E-Mail Open Rate

• 79% of top companies has a profile on Facebook

• 69% has a profile on Twitter

• 59% has a profile on both

Still, their profiles are not being enthusiastically promoted. For instance, the majority of them didn’t include their profile’s links in their Web sites or didn’t provide their social media profiles’ link in their e-mail campaigns. Can you believe that?… Yes?… Are you in the same situation?

TIPS: What can you do if this is your situation too?

• Say… ‘Shoulders to the wheel!’ as soon as you can!

• Just include social media marketing links in your e-mail campaigns or even as part of your e-mail signature.

• Keep always in mind that although it’s hard for you to increase the level of social features in your email campaigns, increasing these types of practices is essential in order to become more popular.

• If the goals of your e-mail campaigns are to raise your sales, increase your popularity and reach current customers and prospects; just include links to your Social Network profiles in your Web site, your Newsletter, your blog, your e-mails, etc. Yes! It’s a simple way to achieve those goals.

• Make it visible! Obviously, you can do it manually with some basic HTML. But, there are also some useful WordPress plugins to help you keep your profile information up-to-date. Some examples include: Retaggr, Social Profiles, Social Media Page, TweetMeme, WP Twitip ID, Lifestream.fm, Add to any,  among others.

• Participate, participate and keep participating in social media!

• Jump onto the Social media bandwagon and your success is guaranteed!

Sources:

• What’s in a Retail E-Mail?
• Top 10 WordPress Plugins to Promote Your Social Media Profiles

How will online businesses and e-marketers react towards Sidewiki?

There is no doubt that it represents an exciting challenge. Sidewiki is an amazing opportunity that incorporates a deeper and closer contact with customer’s opinions and needs.

Now, users can to comment upon your articles, Web design, products and prices. This means that your business will have to listen to customer’s demands and criticism constantly.

If you think about it, Sidewiki can have a positive impact in your marketing and sales results. Why? Okay, these are some positive observations about this new tool.

• Sidewiki promotes the most useful, high-quality entries. You will be able to see the most relevant entries first. It ranks entries using an algorithm that priories the most positive entries. So, good comments and opinions will appear first. Visitors will be able to see that your business works hard and has a constructive feedback with customers.

• Sidewiki is not a menace, but a mirror for your business! You may think that this new browser will damage your reputation. But, basically it will help you obtain what you always wanted: a closer contact with the audience. Sidewiki can facilitate your focus on drawbacks and pay constant attention to what customers have to say! Isn’t that what every business truly wants?

• Online competence will be fairer. It’s your change to achieve success! There is nowhere for hiding anymore. Those businesses, which don’t work hard enough for their audience, will build a bad reputation and negative comments will be posted on their Web sites. If you truly work and pay attention to the customers needs you will be able to build a stronger and trustworthy image.

I hope you have learned something that you can improve. Businesses have to adapt to the constant changes and challenges of the Internet world. Sidewiki is your chance to stand out and truly reach your goals!

Sources:

Help and learn from others as you browse the Web: Google Sidiwiki

Don’t Blame Google Sidewiki if Your Brand Takes another Hit

What Google’s Sidewiki Means to Marketers