Author Archive for Paul Woodhouse

SES Chicago 2008

Published by
Paul Woodhouse
at December 3, 2008 in Business Blogging. 0 Comments

Fancy a little trip up to SES Chicago next week? I know it’s a little short notice, but here’s the lowdown:

Now in its 10th year, the global SES Conference and Exposition Series educates tens of thousands of marketers each year, with a 98% satisfaction rate. SES Chicago, the only major Search Marketing Conference and Expo in the Midwest, will be packed with 60+ sessions, multiple keynotes and Orion Strategy sessions, exhibitors, networking events and more. We hope to see you there.

Event Overview:

  • Real-time actionable information you need to grow your business through search engine marketing
  • Ins-and-outs of search engine marketing from top search experts and the search engines themselves
  • A unique setting to network with fellow marketers and search engine industry professionals to discuss the trends in search engine marketing
  • Access to the world’s most comprehensive gathering of search engine marketing & optimization-related solutions providers and potential partners & affiliates.

What You Will Learn:

  • How search engines list web sites for free and through paid placements
  • How to get free “organic” traffic by building a site that pleases search engines and your visitors
  • How to efficiently purchase listings guaranteed to rank your company at the top of search engine results
  • How to calculate the ROI of your search marketing efforts by tracking your visitors from the time they hit your site until they buy-and get tips on improving conversion if they don’t

Oh, and Justin’s sending me off with a packed lunch as I’ve been invited to present a Tinbasher case study next Wednesday at the Blogging for Business session.

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Martinsburg, WV Next Generation Marketing Event Cancelled

Published by
Paul Woodhouse
at June 2, 2008 in Conference News. 0 Comments

Unfortunately we’ve had to cancel the Martinsburg leg of the Next Generation Marketing tour.

For anybody already signed up, somebody will be in touch over the coming days about your refund.

We apologize for any inconvenience and ask you to keep your eyes peeled for any additional Next Generation Marketing dates in the future.

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Next Gen Check-in

Published by
Paul Woodhouse
at May 22, 2008 in Live Blogging. 2 Comments

Right. Now we look round a few sites in order to pound them into the mud for their marketing folly. (Not overly follysome you’ll notice)

1.Rosenbaum

Question about video placement and click through rates – getting stuff noticed etc.

Call to action buttons. Put the video in a prominent position. Build in a way to gather testimonials. RSS Feed to news section. More choices for interaction

New Media 2.0 blogs and whatnot for the banking industry.

Well it’s regulated and staid. Dull and stuffy. MSN money – use tools/widgets and such.

Fairmont Federal

Show a younger demographic a bit more openess and visibility – especially a credit union. Alignment.

Public Sector Blogging.

People are going to complain no matter what. Political transparency people. These problems don’t go away but it’s also an avenue to plant more positive stuff and develop a more positive conversation. Rather than anonymous detractors tackle them head on. A valid point for all businesses and folks wanting to blog. Pull your head out of the sand. Don’t be an ostrich.

Goodwill advocacy ambassadors. Remember to be proactive. It doesn’t have to be a singular effort, the more the merrier.

Now if there’s one thing I’m taking from today, or has become apparent in this really good little end session, and it’s that the morning’s initial negative comments / general ambivalence to blogs and blogging seems to have been turned around. Not only do more people seem more accepting but the room seems to get it more than they did.

Perhaps I’m wrong and hopefully you’ll set me right.

So an exceptional job, gentlemen. It’s been an absolute pleasure from my point of view.

All your comments are gratefully received.

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Building Loyalty and Advocacy: Skip Lineberg

Published by
Paul Woodhouse
at May 22, 2008 in Business Blogging and Live Blogging. 0 Comments

Will it Blend

Check the videos.

We’re wanting raving loyal customers. Or loyal raving customers.

Would you refer us to someone else?

Net Promoter

Great little example of advocacy of Zappos.com from Jenny in the audience in her explanation of her Zappos usage – “Any shoe you would ever need.”

If you check their site you have have testimonials front and center. Let others toot your horn.

Good memory moment from Justin about a great thing Zappos did for a customer a while back. I’d forgotten about that one, but then again, I’ve forgotten what I had for lunch.

Seriously, read Seth Godin. If you don’t have a sublime realization of zen-like wowser-ness then I’m a numpty.

Get your free copy of Groundswell. (Although it’s a free for blog review copy.)

Right, where are we.

The whole general idea here is to not act like you give a crap but to actually give a crap and align in that kind of engagement with you and your customers. Yes, it’s something you have to do, but it’s something you honestly can’t fake. Or can’t fake honestly.

You can inspire them with going the extra yard like with the Zappos example above.

Linkedin

If you do happen to be an existing member of Linkedin or sign up for the service after the conference, feel free to mentioning it in the comments if you’d like to connect.

Beware the John McCain spam troll strategy.

Whatever the channel, you need to engage and communicate with your customers and develop a deep relationship. It’s fairly simple. Blogs are fabulous in the current Web landscape that is of the read/write variety, but if you feel more comfortable utilizing video or audio (podcasting) then go right ahead.

From a personal point of view I’ve always been a more avid writer than speaker. And I’ve always had a face for radio. Blogs are an easy choice from my pov . I’d also argue that because of additional benefits such as the search engine reach they’re more beneficial as a more rounded marketing strategy. Let a blog be your Web presence’s engine room.

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Engagement and Dialogue: Justin Seibert

Published by
Paul Woodhouse
at May 22, 2008 in Business Blogging and Online Public Relations. 2 Comments

One way conversation is that old creaky dinosaur most beloved of the old creaky media.

Nice. Charlie Brown’s teacher as the zoned out messenger. Good impression with hand gestures to boot.

Justin’s flagpole – the story will happen and will you join the conversation.

The conversation is uncontrollable. It’s the old Oscar Wilde quote about the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.

Twitter.

Two chances to make a first impression – when you first meet and when you first screw up. A Huntington attendee took the idea and threw it round his bank as a mission statement type thingy.

So how does one maintain one’s online reputation.

Half of all purchases are made with online customer reviews. Negative and positive.

Search Providian

Really. As if a Boy’s Gone Wild video starring Justin would’ve sold any copies whatsoever. Now I’ve got a terrible mental image.

46% of all employees have talked about their workplace online.

Google Health Service

Truly universal healthcare provision.

Ebayink.com

How on earth do you win a severed finger in a bet?

All businesses have advocates. Embrace them and cajole them. Take them skiing like Brad does on a regular basis.

THREE THINGS TO DO TONIGHT

google.com/alerts

Techrigy

Start building a Web presence – even if it isn’t a site per se, start building a rapport online. You can use one of the above services to find out where your brand is being mentioned.

Set up a paid search accounts – only half an hour on Google and Yahoo with your brand and business name results. If and when it happens it’s set up so you can adjust whatever it is that has occurred as a modifier.

“Google are awful! Absolutely awful!” – Justin Seibert, President, Direct Online Marketing.

Man, this isn’t half a test of my flabby touch-typing skills. Then again, it doesn’t take much.

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