Posts Tagged ‘blogging’

Blogging can be your virtual trade show!

Monday, January 14th, 2008

“What is a blog?” I get this question all the time, from co-workers, family and friends. I decided I am going to look at it as a virtual trade show, you go and visit, network and discuss business, showing off your designs and new templates.

If you are not one of the lucky few of the, hundreds of thousands of people who got to attend CES 2008, you can find all about it through blogs that have daily updates, actually virtual updates. Late Friday, I got an email that had information on CES 2008 top 10 booths. Catalyst Exhibits, Inc. was proud to have been involved in the designing and engineering of the Belkin Booth that was #4 on the list at Gizmodo - Top 10 Trade Show Booths!

It is utterly amazing what you can find while blogging;

Blogging Contests, I did not even know they existed until a few weeks back - what a fantastic marketing strategy. There is a contest going on now - One Heck of a Giveaway Contest! What a fantastic way to network, when you are in the confines of your cubicle or office.

Take a look at this extrodinary list of prizes as well as informational websites that can help us all in our venture.

There are going to be 12 different groups of prizes, which means there are going to be a total of 12 different winners. By adding up the value of all the prizes, I would say it is worth a least $1,000. Just for Max’s sponsorship of “500? One Buck Wiki pages total a value of $500, which makes it one heck of a contest.

*Group 1*

*Group 2*

*Group 3*

*Group 4*

*Group 5*

*Group 6*

*Group 7*

*Group 8*

*Group 9*

*Group 10*

*Group 11*

*Group 12*

  • 500EC, 2 month 125×125 ad spot (ABC)
  • 1 month 125×125 ad spot (Contest Time)
  • 1 Month 125×125 ad spot (Read To Me Dad)
  • 1 month 125×125 ad spot (Rhyan)
  • Blog directory submission (5 keyword phrases) (SEO News)

Every contestant is only able to win once. *EC = Entrecard Credits*

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Posted in blogging | 1 Comment »

Carnival of The Capitalists - Small Business Essentials

Tuesday, January 8th, 2008

Thanks to Small Business Essentials for hosting this weeks Carnival of the Captitalists, with some interesting information on Word of Mouth Marketing , I agree with this article and I do think it is a necessity in any market, I also have to say it is not easy and it is time consuming. 

If a customer is happy and satisfied, there is no better advertisement, agreeing with the following statement from Word of Mouth Marketing,  I also feel that this is relevant to  social media and blogging:

The problem with word of mouth marketing is the breadth of buzz needed in order to see an increase in business–and the passive nature of the method itself. 

Blogging does not have to be passive, but blogging to drive business to your website is an on going process, it takes time and it takes readers to make it a success.  Offering your readers something to remember you by and something that they will begin to rely on you for.  But getting the word out can be a challenge.

PR Marketing Trends is another article that caught my attention, we don’t want to admit it, but things could slow down economically and often times, it is the marketing department that suffers.  I really liked the simplified tips that were written at Business and Blogging - simple, direct and to the point.

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Posted in Advertising, Marketing, blogging | 2 Comments »

Social Media, Bookmarking and Blogging

Friday, January 4th, 2008

Words we didn’t hear 15 years ago, Squidoo, Flickr, Digg, Del.icio.us, text messages, Spinn and try this on for size, Blogengage?  Squidoo could have been something that we would have looked for while deep sea diving.  Flickr is something you did with those boogies that you had on your finger in first grade reading class.  Digg is something your mother did in the garden, and often times made you help.  I would have thought that something I picked up at the local Tastee Freeze was absolutely Del.icio.us.  Text messages where something that you got as a telegram, and had to drive to pick up.  Spinn was something that happened when you drank too much in college.  Then there is Blogengage, some folks find it hard just to get engaged these days.      

How much time a day does the average college student spend on social networking sites? Not wanting to spend a fortune to run an expensive study on this, just looking at a few of the students I know, I am going to throw out there three hours a day.  As these students have networked for four years during college, with people that share similar interest or don’t share anything at all other than cramming for exams.  

These are the people that will soon be sharing cubicles with us in the near future, when they are asked to research something, they will start with what they know and what they are comfortable with.  Submitting articles to various social networking sites, and being able to see your information come up organically in searches is what we are all striving for as we blog, flick and digg our way through our online marketing techniques. 

Blogengage is a site where you can submit your blog articles and have people engage them, similar in fashion to Digg, but strictly allowing blog  submissions, where the writing is a little more free flowing and less conforming to the large newswires. 

It is these sites that our decision makers of the future will be using, I see it similar to a consumer’s reports of the future.  Harnessing the potentia l places that your articles can reach with this type social media should be a no brainer.  I’ve only been at this for awhile, and think sometimes, what have I gotten into, but the more you read, the more time you can spend trying to wrap your arms around it, the easier it becomes.  Keep blogging and keep participating.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, ask for help! I have found creative answers from many people at Bloggeries Forum  as well as the Small Business Brief Forum.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions, it is the best way to learn and its amazing the people you will run into. 

When you are exhibiting at Trade Shows, it is as well a social networking atmosphere, you are there to extend your network of sources and clients.   Let them know about your blog, and your networking sites, encourge potential clients to visit and comment.  It is their opinion of your service and product that matters.  Spreading the word and getting feedback will help you make your trade show marketing more of a success.    Make sure that you are blogging about what trade show you will be at next, and always include your booth number. 

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Posted in Marketing, blogging | 3 Comments »

Marketing Matters within the confines of my cubicle!

Wednesday, November 28th, 2007

I have been thrust into the portal of my cubicle which is now a nice private little suite, thinking and learning different areas of marketing.   In the past few months, I have learned about blogging, social media, digg, bloggingzoom and just recently Blog Engage, this is similar to the other sites, but I for one have found it easy to use, and to understand. 

Within a short time after I engaged, I got comment back on one of my posts from the master engager! Thank you too for that.   I write here about the smart marketing for trade shows and trade show exhibits, trying to give clients that are searching an inside look with a personal touch about the people at Catalyst Exhibits.   Blog Engage has an easy feel to it, I have seen some of the faces and names throughout some of the forums and other sites. 

I look at myself as a novice blogger, learning, and I truly didn’t realize I had the writing skills in me, but it has been a fun process, and thanks to good folks like major engager Brian at Blog Engage, I have another tool that will help me get my name and my blog out there.  The more I read, the more I learn, what a great community out there in the blog world!

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Posted in Advertising, Marketing | 3 Comments »

Blogging, is it worth the time and other insights to online marketing.

Tuesday, November 13th, 2007

By: Susie Kleiner 

I started this blog at the end of June, right out of the womb! In January 2007, I was given the task of learning SEO and learning about internet marketing.  In the 11 months that I have taken over this task, I still feel that I am in my infancy.   I have read several forums, and articles, and enjoy the research.    The questions that arise on forums from newbies in the SEO industry are all questions that have helped me learn.  There are so many great forums out there, Digital Point,  Small Business Forum and High Rankings, just to name a few.  If you are struggling with SEO, Blogging, Marketing over the internet these are awesome places to start.

I attended a few online seminars, and someone gave me some great advice in regards to being approached by SEO firms, which, I have to say, we get about three calls a week on people soliciting their services.  Walk cautiously, and be aware of the red flags.  If a firm “guarantee’s” you top placement in the search engines, take a step back.  There are “no” guarantee’s, IMO (in my opinion) (I had to look that one up) I was also told that if an SEO firms vehemently seeks you out, remember, most firms that are reputable, and good at what they do, do not have the time to make cold calls, and most likely have a full plate.

I am not saying that all firms that make cold calls in SEO services are not on the up and up, I am saying arm yourself with some knowledge, and ask alot of questions.

Now, blogging, is it worth the time? I do believe it is, if your company is not already doing so, it is a great “personal” approach to the market place, offer up insight and educate interested parties.  When you are starting out with anything, it is so overwhelming, I felt like I was on the Titanic and sinking pretty quickly, but it is fascinating to read the comments left by readers, and it is interesting research in regards to finding where people are coming from and the keywords they are using.  That will as well give you an education in new keyword phrases you can use for the development of your website, blog or online advertising. 

I am from the old school, and I do enjoy actually talking to live people, instead of pressing 1, 3, 6 or 9 on your touch tone phone, I usually just hit “0″ so I can get a actual person on the other line.  But, in order to stay on top of the game, blogging is on the fore front, our decision makers of the future are coming out of college and the social networking, and social media that are on college campus are sky-rocketing, and I think it’s “lift off ” time for businesses to take the necessary action.   

News travels at light speed now, within minutes of any event, you can locate information online about it.  Whether it is National News, International Events, the information is out there to find.  It took me a few weeks to convince some of the decision makers here, that blogging can help business.  It is much easier if you are in a niche market, but striving to get your company and your brand awareness out there, should be on the forefront of your marketing strategy.  Part of that plan should include blogging, and social media. 

Face it, it does get to be a project when you are writing about the same thing each and every day, learning to put a personal spin on it, and sharing passions of your own spun in an inventive way can only solidify your brand or product.  Tell a story, remember the Taster’s Choice couple? Okay, I am dating myself, but that is something that sticks in the heads of us over forty, it’s all about the approach.  Be inventive, and be honest, people will continue to read and become loyal followers, and if they happen to come to your blog and continue to stick around, it may come up at a cocktail party, or at a charity event, and someone may be listening and that someone could be a potential “decision maker.” 

That in my opinion is the dynamics behind blogging for business.  And thats all I have to say about that!

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Posted in Advertising, Marketing, blogging, seo | 8 Comments »