In 10 years, you won’t be able to visit your local Blockbuster. Maybe less. In fact, the only traditional video stores you’ll see are a smattering of ma n’ pa’s and indy film outlets. Blockbuster and the rest of the big chains will only be accessible by a mouse or remote control. Netflix, the successful DVD-by-mail service has begun to show movies and TV episodes over the Internet to subscribers as it embraces a major technology and and cultural shift, according to CNN.com. The move is inevitable, and also one of survival. As the list of movie-over-the-net providers keeps growing to satisfy the consumer’s insatiable appetite for instant gratification, major motion picture studios will be forced to release their latest DVD movies in digital format for such carriers to find their intended audience Continue Reading

Written by Jessica Dickler as it appears on CNNMoney.com. Click here for original link or read below: Believe it or not, nearly half of U.S. small businesses still don’t have a Web site. Here are 10 ways going online can help boost even the tiniest company. Web sites seem the way of the world these days, but many small-business owners still don’t have an Internet presence. Hal Hance, a practice manager at a small doctor’s office in New York, says having a Web site would be unnecessary at the office he runs. “In medicine, especially in private practice… there really is no point,” he said, “except maybe to provide demographic or biographic information.” Hance isn’t alone. Indeed, of the nearly 25 million U.S. small businesses, 46 percent do not have a Web site, according to the Kelsey Group, Continue Reading

Informative article written by Lynn Hunsaker at Marketingprofs.com. Click here for original link: Lemonade is refreshing, particularly on a hot day. With a little sugar and a lot of squeezing, sour lemons are transformed into a nice, healthy source of sustenance. Similarly, profitable customer loyalty can be a healthy source of sustenance for brand equity and a powerhouse on hot days of competition. Numerous companies are nurturing customers with an array of sweet programs such as personalized marketing, advisory boards and references, customized offerings, privileges, and rewards. These are important contributions to your value proposition. Squeezing the Lemons But what about the rest of the customer experience? How about squeezing the lemons, or acting on the less-attractive feedback Continue Reading

Good article written by Paul McCord as it appears on MarketingProfs.com: One of the critical parts of generating a large number of quality referrals is, of course, getting quality referrals, as opposed to just getting names and phone numbers. Often, when a sales professional asks clients for referrals, clients respond that they either cannot think of anyone or that they do not know anyone who wants or needs the salesperson’s products or services. You can assure yourself of getting quality referrals if you take the time to learn who your client knows prior to asking for referrals. If you know who your client knows, or probably knows, you can suggest potential referrals to your client. How do you discover who your client knows? During the course of the sale you need to be aware of everything Continue Reading

E-Consultancy puts in to question the Cost Per Acquisition (CPA) measurement that all of us use to measure the performance of a particular online marketing campaign. They argue that an online sale results form multiple marketing interactions online like emails and searches, in addition to the paid ad medium, that need to be considered when measuring the CPA. Otherwise, we are not getting a true marketing return on investment measure, and over-valuing the paid ad medium. Lynchpin Analytics studied its client base and found on average that over 50% of online sales driven by banner advertising were reliant on earlier visits from other channels such as search and email. As with traditional marketing where integrating print, radio, outdoor, and PR are key to delivering a high impact campaign, so Continue Reading

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Following in the footsteps of the Marketing Headhunter and in the spirit of year-end lists – yes, another one – here are the top 10 blog posts at BIG Marketing in order of page views: Craigslist Founder Won’t Sell Out Revolutionary Pen-Size Computer Uses Bluetooth Technology Product Packaging that Packs a Punch NHL All Star Voting Has a Viral Storm on its Hands Philips’ Shave Everywhere Ad is Viral at its Best Mondonation – If You Haven’t Heard of BUFUMUFU, You Will iPod In-Ear Headphones Don’t Stick In My Ears HitTail.com Reveals Hidden Keyword Gems in the Long Tail of Natural Searches Smirnoff’s “Tea Partay”: All Eyes on Viral Video Think Different – My Favorite Ad Campaign Continue Reading

Alison Davis at Marketingprofs.com offers up common pitfalls that every business owner and marketer should avoid when communicating key messages in marketing campaigns. Know your audience, speak their language, and make it about them is a great start. Read more