websense

Through the years TKG has provided web services for several auto dealerships. I think many dealers caught on right away to the benefits that a web site could provide, and wanted to maximize that potential. Many auto dealerships say they have sales people solely to service web sales. A lot of them credit web sales with their survival of the recession. And a lot of them say they maximize the benefits of the web, but never really want to spend the time or money to make it feasible.

Because any vehicle purchase is a big deal, it means a lot for consumers to have the ability to shop, research and compare prices before they buy. Especially for an auto dealer, a web site has a very high ROI, especially when compared to more traditional marketing such as print, radio and television ads. Back at the beginning of the year,Mike Sachoff over at WebProNews had some good stats on auto dealers if you are interested.

As we are moving past mid 2010 and getting ready for 2011, TKG has implemented a new marketing budget, and of course ours has been and will continue to be heavy on the web, search and social media marketing. It just works. It’s cheaper than traditional media, and it’s focused – targeted right to the folks we know are looking for the services we provide. It appears that our country is just beginning to rebound. With the 2011 tax changes coming, now is the time to capitalize on whatever momentum we can find. That means making your marketing budget stretch as far as it can, while getting the best results possible.

I talked about marketing budgets a lot last year, and it continues to be a major factor in the success of any business. People won’t buy from you if they don’t know who you are, where you are or your products and/or service.

Consider your ROI for your current marketing budget. Are you getting everything you need out of it? If not, take note, especially if you are an auto dealer or maker. The changes in the auto industry, especially for Chevy and Chrysler (may as well throw Toyota in there), mean that letting your customers know you are doing everything you can to produce a quality vehicle and put people back to work, is vital. Paying off the American Tax Payer is vital, too. You know what the web has been able to do for you, and how desperately the auto industry, and the economy need it to happen now. Make the right choices with your marketing dollars, get the best ROI, make the web work for you!

Very interesting post on Web Pro News discusses the possibility that Facebook and Twitter could threaten the News Industry.
I’ve pointed out several times on this blog when Twitter or Facebook was the first or only source of news of a certain event. I think this will continue to happen just by the very nature of mobile media. When the people involved or near a news worthy event, they are going to Tweet it or put it on thier Facebook status. This happens millions of times a day, and yes, I can see this as something of a threat to the traditional news industry. Especially in places like Iran when traditional media outlets have been blocked from the country.

While I can totally see social media networks being the fastest at reporting, I don’t think they yet have to greatest capability for getting news out to the masses. Yes, news items, especially hot topics will be tweeted and retweeted, and word can spread very fast, but they’re not going to replace television crews any time soon. Nor will they replace newspapers for some of the more mundane local happenings. Newspapers still serve a purpose when it comes to local news, at least and will for the time being. As social media grows up, I do see national events being reported and sought after more on social networks than in actual paper copies of any newspaper.

Another aspect of this is credibility. Whatever opinions we may have about mainstream media, we do have good reason to expect some level of accuracy and fact checking. There are standards for this that newspapers, for instance, live by. However, with Social, there is no such requirement. I think this will slow the pace at which we actually believe significant news that we receive via Social Media.

There is a debate going on over at Web Pro News, pretty interesting… check it out. But tell me, do you think Social Media is outpacing traditional media in terms of first reporting to the masses? Personally, I still like the “paper” paper.

TKG is looking for some talent in the Search Marketing realm. I’m pretty excited to be blogging this, as so many in our area, (and particularly the actual neighborhood) in the last couple of weeks have been laid off. I know there are so many folks out of a job, but we’re one small business who is looking to hire so if you have at least a couple of years experience with the following:

*natural SEO
*pay-per-click
*link building (including content distribution)
*local SEO
*social media marketing strategies
*analyzing & interpreting website data/stats
*tracking search engine rankings, link popularity, saturation, etc.

Then send a copy of your resume to Stacy Hoffman @ s@tkg.com or fill out our SEM Job interest form.

All workplaces have thier benefits, but if you are familiar with TKG at all, you know most of us thrive in a laid back environment. If you love your jeans and your tunes, you’ll fit right in around here. We have some great benefits to offer someone with the right talent, including: medical, dental and life insurance, a 401k plan, bonus structure and paid vacations and holidays. The pool and foose ball tables don’t hurt, either.

It’s a new year, full of potential. As a Capitalist, living in what used to be, what is supposed to be, a Capitalist society, I have a little bit of trepidation for the coming year. Last year our area saw things really start to turn around. I would really hate to see anything mess that up, but some new legislation that is coming down the pike has the potential to really slow down, if not entirely destroy our slowly recovering economy.
1. Cap and Trade – You all heard me complain comment on this last year. This bill has passed the House, and has yet to go to the Senate. This bill will tax the use of energy to the point that regular families and buisnesses will be crippled. This bill will cost people jobs, as businesses will not be able to afford to hire. This bill was partly based on “Global Warming”, which has now been proven to be made up, created and a hoax perpetrated by Al Gore and whatever “scientists” he could bribe. Luckily, with the addition of Senator-elect Scott Brown, this has little chance of making it through the Senate unchallenged.

2. Health Care “Reform” – This healthcare bill, which has passed both the House and Senate, even though the two bills that passed look nothing alike, had the potential, and if passed (though unlikely now) will create more taxes that begin immediatley, even though the programs they are supposed to fund won’t begin for several years. They haven’t decided what the programs will be, or who they will benefit, but the bills have passed, and now you and I get to pay for whatever the Dems decide (behind closed doors – nice transparency) will actually be in the bills. I pray that the American people speak out LOUD and CLEAR and tell them that we won’t pay for Abortion, and we don’t want the public option. Also, if we opt out of a healthcare plan because we choose to do so, it is UNCONSTITUTIONAL to fine us for it!

While things may seem to be looking up with the election of another Republican in a formerly Democratic seat, there are still some things we need to do to ensure that these bills do not pass. It’s time to do something about both of these bills. Call, write, email, whatever communication you like – your representatives need to hear from you! We can still influence the voting for Cap and Trade, and we can still be heard when it comes to the Health Care Reform bill.
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

I would love to see a light at the end of this crazy spending tunnel we’ve been put through. I think that is coming with the 2010 mid term elections. At least it should give us some room to breathe when there are more folks on both sides of the aisle, rather than one party having all the control. I am also hopeful that some new blood will be elected, no more of the same old “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” politicians. Enough is enough already. Here’s hoping 2010 is not a year of bailouts, taxes and budget deficits so deep we’ll never climb out of the hole. Here’s hoping 2010 brings with it a little common sense.

As our planet gets smaller and the social media realm seems to be ever increasing, we see that more and more of our clients are tempted to re-use content across several different spectrums of social media. For example:
The content for your newsletter should not be repurposed for your News section of your site, at least not entirely. More importantly, your email marketing campaign should not repeat your newsletter, and your Facebook and Twitter accounts should not mirror the email marketing campaign.

I know, sounds like a lot of double talk, but you have to take a step back and look at who the audiences are for each of these applications.
1. Your Web site – your users are most likely potential clients, current clients and peers, and perhaps job seekers. You should be writing with this in mind.
2. Newsletter – Your newsletter probably goes out to many people in your community, people with whom you are on different boards or commitees, clients, your Aunt Ruth, and current clients. The newsletter needs to invite people to your site, it needs to bring fresh and interesting news, and perhaps a bit of the human factor in your company.
3. Email marketing campaigns – these need to focus on what you can provide a potential client, or what new services you can provide for existing clients. They need to be upbeat, but not longer than absolutely necessary. They need to serve the reader with some immediate and easy call to action.

Jason Falls of Social Media Explorer has a great article on this very topic, I suggest you check it out.

I know fresh copy ideas can be a pain in the uh, neck, but you can make the most of all of these endeavors with a bit of effort and some perspective on who will be reading what you have to say, and why you are saying it.
Dana Phillips, one of our Marketing Specialists just spent a few days down in sunny Florida learning the newest and best strategies for an email marketing campaign at a Marketing Sherpa seminar. She learned a lot and we like to put her brain to use, so if you have any questions regarding your email marketing give her a jingle or shoot her an email @ dana at tkg dot com . She’s happy to answer any questions.