Why Digital Marketing Is The Way Forward

by: Anita Lyon


Digital marketing solutions are a must for companies attempting to progress into the new age. Standard advertising and marketing tactics are far less effective these days, but why. Well it's pretty simple actually, cost and reach. In days gone by, focusing your entire marketing budget into newspaper, radio or magazine advertising campaigns could be sufficient for some businesses. Nowadays, readership in print media is down almost across the board, and that is largely due to the rise of the internet. Why stop and buy the newspaper when you can get to your office go online and read all the news you can handle without having to hand over any money. With this rise, came the dawn of digital marketing. For many top companies, digital marketing involves a lot more than just public relations. It is an integration of the right technology, equipping your staff with the right skills and streamlining the way you turn browsers into customers. Remember, attracting attention is great, but
paying clients is what you are actually after when you use digital marketing services.

Here are some tips to help you kick-start your journey into the digital marketing era:

• Set goals: Decide what you want to achieve, then you can properly plan the steps needed to get there. When using your website as a marketing tool, consider attracting visitors through Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). You should also integrate a decent analytics system to properly monitor the visitor movement on your site.

• Create an identity: The rise of social media has allowed companies to connect with their customers on a deeper level. It also makes marketing to these interested parties that much more effective.

• Email marketing is a must: Many people will compare email marketing to pamphlet drops. In a way they are similar, except with email marketing it is far more effective both in its ability to attract customers and the number of people it reaches.

• Help your customers: Try using a blog as a standalone marketing tool. Here you can share helpful information about products, share thoughts on certain topics and also provide more in-depth answers that your customers may be searching for.

These are just a few of the things to keep in mind when taking your first step into digital marketing. Although it is quite possible for you to do it yourself, choosing a leading digital marketing company will definitely give you the edge. There has never been a better time than now to implement digital marketing solutions for your company.

About The Author
Anita Lyon is a Professional freelance SEO Copywriter and writes on various topics. If you are looking to gain a better understanding about digital marketing solutions visit Acceleration, the leaders in Digital Marketing Services.

What will 2011 Bring?

Two years and counting until 12-21-12.  What economic trends will occur in 2011?  Boom or Bust?

I'll go out on a limb and say the first half of 2011 will be a "Bull Market" worldwide, with a further huge rise in Commodities like gold, rare earths, and oil... as shortages loom.

Pushing further out on this thin limb, the second half of 2011 will be not so good.  New climate calamities, war, and disease will bring down all world markets to their lowest point in 10 years.  In my humble opinion!

COULD I BE AN FUND MANAGER?

Nine business days ago today, I created a 'stock portfolio' for testing purposes, with $1 Billion.  It contains stocks, commodities and ETFs.  It is heavy in gold, silver, oil, natural gas, and pharmaceuticals.  There are no banks, retail, or many technology stocks.  It also contains several Chinese Stocks.  I like commodities and always have, even when it was "real" money.

To date, in nine business days of trading, I have made a $57 Million profit.  Could I be a Fund Manager?

The $1 Billion Gamble

On Monday of this week I invested $1 Billion into my CNBC Portfolio and over the week bought a varied mix of 36 stocks , commodities, pharmaceuticals, and ETFs.  Today at 12:45 ET, I am up $2.4 Million for the day and $6.5 Million for the week.  Of the original amount 35% is still cash, 15% stocks, and 49% ETFs.  I plan on lowering my cash position to 15% next week.

I wish I had done this years ago, with real money! 

"Playing the Game"

Bill Gates, Warren buffet...those guys didn't get $50B+ investing in stocks and bonds.  I managed to triple my money in my 401K in 18 months.  In my game I've made $25,000 in one day (also lost that much)  so I was wondering.....how much does one have to invest to make $1 Million dollar profit in one day?

I added one billion dollars to my "pretend" account.....that's one thousand million dollars!

Even buying blocks of 500,000 shares.......in 30 minutes of stock picking I only manged to 'buy' about $400 Million worth of stock and Gold.  Today,  I only made $230,000.......what the hell?  Tonight I'll see if I can find another $400 million to invest in.  This is harder than I thought it would be!

Market Stretegy for Monday October 18, 2010

I dumped all my ETF's stock, etc to cash...except for my favorite Gold ETF (GLD) of which I took a position of 1000 shares.

Further terrorist threats on European targets, notably France may cause concern to the Euro and hopefully, for me, run up the price of  gold.  Yes folks, evil Capitalists make money in tragedy and war.

Rise of the Machines

Great segment on "60 Minutes" last night in regards to trading, as much as 70%, of all stock trades by Supercomputers!  They are taking over.  It also explains how folks using 'math' are creating market trends that have no basis in world events...they are being "logical" instead.  Well I can see this being regualted after the next computer driven melt-down!

Doom and Gloom in the US Market

I have been lucky to be able to use my friends laptop, while he is visiting China for three months.  I have been able to watch the open of the Asian Markets, watch them mostly rise, and feeling optimistic, bet heavy on a positive US Market rise.  Nos so fast...as Asia rise, Europe and the USA have fallen.  Today, October 4th is a good example.


My paper portfolio, heavy for the first time in US stocks, lost over $10,000 this AM, before I could dump them and switch to Asian stocks and ETF's.  For the time being i am going back to 100% Asia, commodities like GOLD, and Chinese ETF's and short the DOW.
I will stop being "Optimistic" and go back to not trading on a Friday or a Monday!  I did quite well following my "gut" feeling about that.

Let chaos reign!

The Federal Reserve

Many anti-federalists oppose big Federal Government.  They want to return the power to the states and local governments, thinking in error, that will protect their constitutional rights somehow.

The real power of the Federal Government is the Federal Reserve System and it's Chairmen, yielding power to almost rival that of the President

Why don't these "New-Federalists" propose the abolishment of the Federal Reserve, an agency that has outlived it time.

Today for example the world economy was shaking in it's boots, awaiting a few lame crumbs from the Reserve Chairman...markets fell worldwide in anticipation of bad news!  Only now, prior to the close, have they marginaly rose higher.

I say it's time for the Dictatorship of the Federal Reserve to end!

Get Googled And Build Credibility

Copyright (c) 2003 by Angela Booth

Value your privacy? Get over it. The bad news is that thanks to the Web, privacy no longer exists. Get Googled, and within a few short seconds anyone who knows your name will be able to learn quite a bit about you.

Try it. Go to Google (http://www.google.com), and type in your name. I just did a search query for "Angela Booth" and Google returned a search of over 95, 000 pages. If you have a Web site, post a message on Usenet, sell on eBay, or do much of anything other than breathe, you're caught, like a butterfly in amber, in the sticky World Wide Web courtesy of Google.

Bad as this may be for privacy, this is good news if you're trying to build a business. It means that if you focus some of your marketing and promotion time on getting your name out on the Web, you're building your credibility.

Suddenly all those direct-mail letters that you've been sending out carry a bit more weight. You're more than a slip of paper, a stamp and an envelope. You're a Google-presence.

So how do you build credibility out of being Googled?

The fastest way is to write a couple of information-rich articles, and post them on your Web site. Sure, this is a little bit of work, but not much. You can write, can't you? Within a month or so, your name will appear on Google.com. Over time, your name will also pop up on the Web's other search engines.

You don't have a Web site? You need one, and if you can type and you've got an hour to spare you can get one. Many, many Web site hosting companies offer site hosting for next-to-nothing a month. These hosting companies are catering to non-technical people who want a hassle-free site, so they make it as easy as they can by offering site templates. All you do is pick a template, type in your information (or copy and paste), and in less than an hour you've got a pretty good site that works great as an online portfolio and information resource for your clients.

Continue writing articles. Write one a month, and post them on your Web site. You can also offer them to other Web sites to publish. You do this by joining a few article announcement lists and sending your articles to the lists. To find these lists, go to Yahoo groups (http://groups.yahoo.com) and search for "article announce". Ezine publishers and Web sites owners will pick up your articles. Suddenly, you're Google-cred goes up.

Note, that I said "information rich" articles. Some small business owners write puff pieces about themselves and their business, and guess how much credibility this builds? People search for information online, so your articles must contain useful information.

You won't suddenly get a dozen new clients directly from your online articles. You get them indirectly. For example, when someone I don't know sends me an e-mail message and I'm interested in what they say, the first thing I do is Google them. In five seconds, I know whether I want to pursue the relationship or not.

If you're sending out direct mail letters introducing yourself and your services, you can bet that those prospects who are interested in what you have to offer will Google you. If you're revealed as knowledgeable in your field, you're suddenly credible.

So go ahead, use Google.com to your promotional advantage. It's a powerful tool to build credibility for your business.

---

Veteran multi-published author and copywriter Angela Booth crafts words for your business --- words to sell, educate or persuade. E-books and e-courses on Web site. FREE ezines for writers and small biz: http://www.digital-e.biz

Investing In Gold Bullion

by G Smith 
Today I am 100% invested in Gold.........in a practice investment account, my position is $998,000 in GOLD!  In a few hours I'll see how I did. (BentnWasted)
 
For thousands of years Gold has been used as currency and been
a highly prized precious metal. Gold has always been a favored
investment to hedge your portfolio against inflation. Gold
prices in the international gold market can remain fairly
stable through times of instability, recession and currency
fluctuations.

The ways of investing in gold can be via purchasing physical
gold bullion in the form of gold bars or gold rounds, minted
gold coins. Gold shares in gold mining companies are also
available and various types of gold funds or mutuals that are
managed by professional investors.

Holding at least a small percentage of your stock portfolio in
gold bullion is always a good idea. The relatively stable price
of gold can help insure your investment portfolio against
economic instability. Gold bullion prices may fluctuate over
the years but gold investments are highly unlikely to get
devalued and have performed well over recent years.

Gold coins have a legal tender face value in the countries
currency that they were minted, and can be easier to dispose of
if you need to liquidate your gold assets. Many types of gold
bullion rounds or gold coins are available, such as American
Eagles, Krugerrands, Sovereigns, Canadian Maples, Australian
Gold Nuggets, Chinese Gold Pandas and many more. Gold bullion
bars are available in many different sizes upto 400 ounce size.
The 400 oz bullion gold bar is the London Good Delivery bar
size. Good delivery bars must meet certain specifications, they
must weigh between 350oz - 430oz and be of a minimum purity of
99.5% pure Gold. These London Good Delivery bullion bars are
normally held by central banks and not usually held by smaller
private investors.

Mining shares can be lucrative but their performance depends on
the success of the mine and the general standing of the mining
company you are investing in. Therefore mining stocks may not
follow the general trend of the gold fix market, but can
outperform the market if the mining company is particularly
successful.

A precious metals gold managed fund can provide a more diverse
gold stocks portfolio. The funds manger may invest in various
precious metals and gold shares spreading any risk between a
selection of stocks. Precious metals mutuals are available that
also invest in other metals such as Silver, Platinum and
Palladium as well as gold stocks.

The most cost effective way to invest in physical gold is to
buy larger bullion bars. Gold bullion in bar form offers the
lowest gold dealers percentage over the gold market price,
depending on the bars size the dealers premium over fix can be
as low as 2% - 5%. Compared to the premium on various gold
coins of between 7% - 20% or more gold bullion bars appear much
more attractive financially. Although the fact that gold bullion
rounds or coins are much more liquid than bars may sway your
decision to purchase bars. Gold coins can be disposed of on the
open market fairly easily and quickly in comparison to large
gold bars. Coins are also much easier for the smaller investor
or private individual to obtain and to store. There is also the
collectable and historical value that gold coins have against
gold bullion bars.

About The Author: Gold bullion investment tips and live gold
fix market price charts visit http://www.gold-fix.co.uk For
silver,gold and platinum live price quotes and information
visit http://www.goldfix.net

Betting the Farm....Again

Today, in retrospect was supposed to be a huge "up" day, according to Asian markets late last night.  Was down $1200 in DDM, sold out at 8:00 AM PT and bought and equal amount ($80,000) woth of my favorite DXD.  Oh well, it's only fake money.

Obama speaks and hatches another bogus stimulus pan which spends more $Billions .....Market drops like an elevator.  He should stay off TV, but his ego is to big.

Bet the Farm? Oh my!

Ok, playing the market game I shorted the market on 8/25 & 8/26....made $2000, got greedy and shorted the market this AM....lost $2000 in four hours, thanks to the FED.

Sold out of the EFT DXD and bought, FXI (Chinese EFT) .....up $600 so far this morning.  Hey, it's only imaginary money!

Restaurant Marketing

by: Massimo Montone

Marketing is defined as a communications-based process where individuals and people discover that their existing or new needs and wants can be satisfied with products and services of others; in your case, your restaurant.

The question is - do you need a marketing plan for your restaurant or are you waiting for guests to come in?

If you are full every shift, maybe not. Unless you want to achieve greater profits, however a marketing plan means thinking in advance. Don’t wait until the revenue goes down to do it. Do it before and fill your seats.

In order to get the marketing plan for your restaurant right, you need to have a good understanding of your potential customers and be clear on why they make decisions to buy from you and not from someone else.

Subsequently, to get it right, you want to look at all of the following factors:

• Nature of the market.

• Customers.

• Competitors.

• Financial and marketing history.

• The industry as a whole.

• Any external influences, such as events, festivals etc.

Obtain a good analysis of what and where your guests are coming from and how often customers are visiting your restaurant.

When writing a restaurant marketing plan, you have to consider the seven Ps of marketing - plus one of mine.

• Product.

• Price.

• Place.

• Promotions.

• People.

• Process.

• Physical evidence.

• Positive.

Let’s focus on the last four for a moment.

To have a good competitive advantage, you need to focus on people, therefore get the right staff and training to deliver what people expert from your business. Aptitude and service knowledge needs to be equal to what your customers are outlaying.

The process is the system you have to implement and follow. Consistency is essential in order to get it right and supply what you are offering. Every step in the process is important - from the few words spoken to a guest when they call to make a booking, to the conversation during a guest’s departure.

Physical evidence is a critical ingredient of the restaurant service mix; your guests make perceptions based on their view of the restaurant. Make sure you keep your restaurant clean, friendly, fun, organized and an enjoyable place to be.

People are attracted by positive statements and positive organizations. Do everything in your power to keep your business and everyone who works for you POSITIVE. If you have great power and energy, eventually this will pass on to your guests.

http://www.restaurant-success-course.com/

The strategy

A restaurant should spend at least somewhere between 6% and 8% of the total sales in marketing, but the idea is to do marketing when you are busy. Don’t wait until you are quiet. Remember, for a restaurant it is more, much more difficult and more expensive to do external marketing.

What you want to do is to invest in your current guests, and build loyalty and relationships. However, most restaurants spend 85-90% of their budget trying to get new customers.

What we are going to look at now is how to do that effectively by using simple tactics.

Signage:

You want to have branded signage that is the best on your street, considering relevant laws.

Flyers:

Don’t be scared to distribute flyers if you are opening, reopening, or launching a new dinner menu. It is the most powerful mode of direct marketing and if done right can result in a fantastic return on investment.

Newsletters:

Before creating a newsletter, list on your website reasons for visitors to register, by giving out a receipt or a free drink if they book online. Once you have your mailing list, do a newsletter every week, informing guests of your news, menus and once in a while offer something to them as a thank you for being on the list.

The internet has become one of the most powerful marketing tools for restaurants. So, make sure your restaurant is up to speed.

Food testing:

Have your positive staff members offer samples in places where your potential customers congregate.

One to one:

Go around town, or in front of your business dressed in a themed costume (for example, if you sell pasta, dress up as such) and hand out your flyers. I know businesses that have used that tactic in bad times who are now extremely successful.

Themed Dinners:

On slow nights offer diners a reason to come to the restaurant. For example, on Mondays offer wine at cost price, lunchtime specials or a specific set menu that is cheaper during slow times. Remember, give your guests reasons to come in.

Prize Draw:

Have fishbowls for collecting business cards and offer chances to win prizes, for example, dinner for two.

Website:

Make sure your website is interesting and well presented, but most importantly, make sure your information is CORRECT. I see many restaurant websites that feature old menus or outdated information. Many people before they buy something make a decision to check the internet for information and reviews. This includes restaurants. More than 50% of adults aged between 18 and 44 have used the internet to gain information before going to a new restaurant.

Comments Card:

Ensure that if you decide to have one, it is professionally presented and offer a prize for completing one, for example a bottle of wine. Obtain the guest’s information, for example, e-mail or phone number to increase your customer database.

Loyalty Program:

You may want to create a loyalty card for regulars by giving 20% off the bill, or offering a free bottle of wine with every fifth dinner.

Happy hour:

Make people stop for a drink after work by offering a two for one drinks or free starters.

Live Entertainment:

Select a specific night to do live music. Be specific about what you are playing, could be jazz, or another genre of music.

Some restaurant operators have on the back of their personal business card the message, “please come and have a drink on me.” This is a very powerful strategy!

Remember that you must offer great customer service and warmth to your visiting customers. Make them have fun and have an exceptional experience, so that they tell their family and friends about their positive experience.

Only then you will have the best form of marketing - free marketing!

http://www.restaurant-success-course.com/

About The Author

Meet Massimo - Professional Restaurant Coach

Massimo Montone is the author of the Money Making Restaurant Success Course, and founder and creator of the Expert Restaurant Coaching Program EPER module for restaurant success.

He is a successful Manager and Life Coach Professional, creating solutions for restaurants and bars around the world, using innovative consultancy skills to quickly assess new opportunities in-house and externally - to capture market potential in the hospitality sector.

Introduced to the restaurant business at very young age in Italy, Massimo ran his family’s successful restaurant and was educated at one of the world’s best culinary schools. He then went on to work in some of the finest kitchens in London, gaining much ‘hands on’ experience. He holds a Masters Degree in Business Management. Moreover, his professional vision helps him see the restaurant business from the ‘outside of the box.’

Massimo’s unique and positive approach to people management makes him one of the best in the field of personal development training for restaurant managers and owners. His workshops are fun, easy to understand, practical, interactive, informative and full of energy.

An author of the Money Making Restaurant Success Course and creator of the Expert Restaurant Coaching Program, Massimo Montone is a leader in professional restaurant success coaching and consultancy.

http://www.restaurant-success-course.com/

The author invites you to visit: http://www.restaurant-success-course.com

It’s Easy to Make Money in the Market

OK, I am 50% through an MBA in Management, but don’t consider myself a “Broker”. Yet, I am able to make $500-$1500 per day in the market. Not a big deal, can’t buy a house or a huge yacht with that, but hey, it could be a “living”. I started with $50,000 in January 2009 and the “Portfolio” as of June 18, 2010 is now $132,000. This increase is from 100% reinvestment of profits and trades, and with zero additional funds.

The last few days I have shorted the Euro currency. Last week I shorted the DOW. I like commodities, so I invest in oil stocks, gold, and silver. I mostly trade in $10,000 blocks, and for a day or two in time. When the market is really volatile, I sit on a hoard of cash, perhaps for weeks. It doesn’t grow, but it doesn’t get erased either. Is there a “secret”?

There is no secret, other than a sense of world events on markets, analyzing data from various sources and making a strategic guess, based on that data. I look at charts, but don’t analyze them. I believe political events effect the market as much as, “Investment Strategy”. I like my “gut” reaction to data, and then go for it!

You are probably thinking, “If it’s so easy, why doesn’t everyone do it?” I am thinking that myself!

Gold and Short the Market

Yes I  squawk about GOLD and Shorting the Market in here, but the European Crisis is here for the rest of 2010 folks.  My "Portfolio" gained back my $10,000 loss after I shorted the market almost 100% and bought more gold stocks...in the last two days!

I can see the Euro going 2/$1 USD by years end and GOLD at $1400+ oz.  The bulk of the Eu is Bankrupt and many times worse off than Greece.  I can't see a few $Trillions in liquidity of cash anywhere, to bail out the entire EU.  Strangely Russia, China, and India are not on this list.  Does this mean unregulated Capitalism just sucks?  Who can say?

Remember, "Today is the best day of the rest of your life!"

Short the Market

Dumped hundreds of shares of Exxon, GE, Gold Coins, Cash, and put them in DXD, shorting the market.  Portfolio increased $1500+ today.

In Five years (or less) the DJIA will be 5,000!

Buy Gold and Oil Stocks

Today I toyed with my "portfolio"........sold 250 shares of Exxon, 200 shares of GE, and some other trades and bought 26, one ounce gold coins...Canadian Maple Leafs, for $31, 300+.........gee, now I suppose I have to get a $5,000 Gun safe to store it in.  Oh well. It appears anyone can make money in the market.

Random Thoughts

The Death of the Middle Class – yeah, that's over, soon there will be the upper 5% and the rest. Gone are the days when a $50,000/yr job was a good job, now it's the “working poor”. Many have known for some time that the USA’s bloated economy was unsustainable, now, everyone knows. The “American Dream” is dead. Now there is the “Chinese Dream” and the “Indian Dream”.

Why isn't your income directly related to your IQ?

How much will the last gallon of gasoline on Earth be worth?

If all cars were Electric, there is not enough generating capacity anywhere on Earth to charge them all at once!

God does not reward you with wealth.

A college degree is inversely proportional to your loan debt vs salary expectations, divided by actual salary.

Someone should invent an economic system based on need, rather than conspicuous consumption.

Twitter "Blogvermercial" unplugged on 4-15-10

I am ending by "Blogvermercial" Twitter account, and adding it to my "Bentnwasted" Twitter account....too many accounts, too little time to post. Hope to see followers there!