Mitch Arnowitz

November 02, 2007

[AM] Getting plugged into DC

Posted to AdMarketing list
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Hi everyone--

While doing client research, we discovered a ton of 'newer' groups, blogs and start-up offerings in town.

Pointers for a Tuesday morning:

DC Tech Events calendar (great roll-up of user groups + more, offers
feeds)

The DC Technology Network (new social network, join and start a group)

Alice Marshall's Tech on the Potomac blogroll over on Blogdigger

Refresh DC

nextDC

TECH cocktail in DC

The Webpreneur (interesting thread)

There's other activity going on including this past weekend's Startup Weekend DC last summers barcamp and upcoming WidgetDevCamp.

This is in addition to the tons of DC MeetUps available and flickr groups.

This is all, of course, in addition to this week's New New Internet 2.0 conference in town.

Have any other pointers? Send them into the list! Txs, Mitch

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December 06, 2006

newspapers and citizen journalism

WashPost had a great article on changes that newspapers, and others, are going through. The article details the well documented saga of consumer journalism and shrinking circulation.

The best part of the article though is the last lines:

On the other hand, none of the sources Myron dealt with in two assignments on consecutive days seemed to grasp that what he was reporting and writing about them would go to the News-Press Web site.

"They ask me, 'When's what you wrote about me going to be in the paper?' " Myron said. "I have no good answer."

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September 17, 2006

Ronald McHummer Just Say No

EWG and HybridCars.com have teamed up to bash the McDonalds Hummer relationship. The Ronald McHummer website lets you create and download your own sign, tell a friend and take action.

(saw it at BL Ochman's whatsnextblog.com)

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July 06, 2006

Angry Customers Use Web to Shame Firms

Here is yet another article about the ease & power of the Internet
when it comes to spreading the word about bad customer service. Things have changed quite a bit (thanks to Web 2.0 services like youtube) with consumers understanding how to get the word out beyound putting up a Web site like AOL Watch.

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June 12, 2006

Jakob Nielsen's Alertbox: Surviving Inbox Congestion

Jakob Nielsen's Alertbox for June 12 is now online: Email Newsletters: Surviving Inbox Congestion

Observations:

Our main conclusion remains the same: Email newsletters are the best way to maintain customer relationships on the Internet.

1. This is a strong statement. With all the talk about engaging and opening up the dialogue, it's interesting that Nielsen's research shows that a broadcast is still the best way to grow the relationship.

2. Using the term 'news feeds' makes more sense that 'RSS'- very true. I still can't find contacts that know what an RSS feed is but they do understand 'news feed'. The challenge though is explaining, in English, how feeds work. Nielsen's idea of using My Yahoo! as an example for feeds is a great idea.

3. Feeds are not a relationship builder but newsletters are- I never thought that we'd consider newsletters to be warm and fuzzy...

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May 08, 2006

Building an Effective Marketing Program

(read it on Potomac Tech Wire)

Lisa Martin, of Leapfrog, recently interviewed Gerald Gordon, Ph. of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority.

It's encouraging to see that this short touches upon online communications with the following:

5. What are some of the most cost effective marketing tactics for a small company today?

Networking with groups that make up your potential clients, targeted trade shows, targeted letters with a call-to-action and something inside that will get it opened out of curiosity, targeted online communications, guerilla marketing, e-mail sponsorships or e-mail campaigns directed toward core audiences. But, the number one tactic should be following up with your leads. It sounds simple, but I’m amazed at how many people don’t do it.

Lead gen follow-up is so true. This is something that Brian Carroll over at the B2B Lead Generation Blog discusses quite a bit.

Continue reading "Building an Effective Marketing Program" »

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January 11, 2006

Everyday Hogwash

Steve Rubel points to a good marketing campaign. VoIP company SunRocket has started a website called Everyday Hogwash. The idea is for people to post rants about everyday companies that stick it to you through mouse type, bad customer service or whatever. Link back to the promotion and get entered to win prizes. The message, of course, is that SunRocket is the 'no-gotcha' company void of hidden fees that typically send consumers over the edge.

(disclosure: our firm did some grassroots work for SunRocket before they launched).

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September 12, 2005

Hurricane Katrina Resources Page for Marketing, Advertising, & PR Professionals: MarketingSherpa

Diva Marketing points to an interesting MarketingSherpa list of Hurricane Katrina Resources for Marketing, Advertising, & PR Professionals. Meanwhile, a conversation over on AdMarketing asks if marketers have a civic responsibility to use our abilities for the greater good--especially in times of crisis?

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August 23, 2005

Lead gen and free chapters

I have always been a fan of free chapters as a way to sell more books. After all, some really well known marketers have been doing this for years.

We are in the middle of a B-B lead generation campaign that uses a book as an incentive. We just discovered that the publisher gives away a free chapter. What we're unsure of is whether the chapter increases the value of the offer or prompts someone to take the wrong action.

I should probably post this question to Brian Carroll's blog...

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July 29, 2005

hand written notes are a nice touch

On the good practices front, I met up with the head of a Washington, DC PR agency last week where we discussed potential partnerships between our firms. A couple of days later, I received a hand written note. What a great touch-- someone taking the time to send a personal response. This also reminded me of a comment by Robbin Zeff during an on line advertising & marketing conversation a few years ago.

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July 26, 2005

Name a company, win $100.00

The AdMarketing list has an interesting conversation going on. Internet marketer Marcia Yudkin has announced a contest to come up with a name for a web design/search engine optimization company. The winning name (and namer) gets $100.00.

Some AdMarketers think that the contest stinks while others are OK with it. Seems some are insulted to be paid $100.00 for the effort while others are glad to have the opportunity. $100.00 for a name seems like a pretty good deal. Question is, who's it a good deal for? More.

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July 13, 2005

Naming Fred's New Ping Service

Our friend Toby Bloomberg, of Bloomberg Marketing, is trying to name Fred's new ping service. Fred's service saves time-- especically the option that saves your settings to bookmarks!

More: Diva Marketing (Blog): Help Naming A New Ping Service 

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June 27, 2005

LISTSERV Choice Awards program

The LISTSERV Choice Awards program is back again this year. LISTSERV is the brand name of parent company L-Soft's email management  software package.  Self-nominations are welcome!

It's worth checking out last year's award winners. It's also worth following and finding email conversations at CataList, the company directory of lists.

The contest invites all LISTSERV email list enthusiasts to participate in the only industry-wide recognition program honoring the most interesting, creative, innovative or exemplary usage of email list, email campaign and mailing technology. This year's 2005-2006 contest features four different nomination categories: LISTSERV Discussion, LISTSERV Newsletter, LISTSERV Announcement and LISTSERV Innovation.

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June 20, 2005

The Gilbert Email Manifesto (GEM)

More oldies but goodies... Michael Gilberts email manifesto created quite a stir when it was released in 2001. Like with the other list recently published, these points make as much sense today as they did yesterday.

What do you think? Repeat after me:  "Email is more important than my web site!"

Michael's list:

Rule #1: Resources spent on email strategies are more valuable than the same resources spent on web strategies.

Rule #2: A web site built around an email strategy is more valuable than a web site that is built around itself.

Rule #3: Email oriented thinking will yield better strategic thinking overall.

 

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June 15, 2005

Top 10 Internet Marketing- 1995

I'm doing some research for a client and came across the following Top 10 List of Internet Marketing Do's and Dont's.

Internet marketing has certainly may have changed over the past several years but this list is still relevant. It's also interesting to read a communications list developed before the world of blogging took off.

The list:

DO

   1. Use a sig file.

   2. Ensure that your email address is included on stationery, your business card, brochures and advertisements. Include your web site URL, if you have one.

   3. If you have a web site, keep it simple and straight-forward.

   4. Find a way to stimulate dialogue with visitors to your web site.

   5. Consider news groups and mailing lists important resources for gathering marketing-related information.

DON'T

   1. Announce your web site until it is completed and fully functional.

   2. Broadcast your message indiscriminately, unless you enjoy being flamed.

   3. Lose sight of the fact that it is the user, not the advertiser, who foots the bill for Internet advertising.

   4. Make your email messages or news group posts any longer than they need to be.

   5. Underestimate the speed at which bad news can travel throughout the Internet, or the negative impact this phenomenon may have on your company.

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May 05, 2005

Meeting Nan Dawkins

I had the pleasure of meeting Nan Dawkins earlier this week. Nan is a principle over at Redboots Consulting and truly an expert in the areas of search engine marketing and optimization.

I learned a few interesting things for sure. Like how press releases are being used to improve (news) search engine rankings. More here. It also amazes me that most brands STILL do not check search engine rankings. This means that many companies are not aware of what customers and detractors are saying about them.

It's sometimes difficult to have perspective but my sense, after meeting with Nan, is that we're still early in the game of online communications.

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April 14, 2005

Dear Meetup Community

Dear Meetup Community,

We have some news to share that we don't think you're going to like. There's no point in dancing around it so here it is. Starting May 1st, every Meetup Group will have to pay a monthly fee. Read on for the details.

I am sure that the coming days will produce the reasons why Meetup feels it necessary to charge groups to cover costs but you have to admire the way they delivered this news...

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April 07, 2005

AMS Interactive becomes Acuity Media Group

Mark Dorf just wrote to say that his company AMS Interactive  has merged with longtime partner American Media Services to form Acuity Media Group.

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March 30, 2005

Cluetrain free for the reading

I just found the Cluetrain book entiely online and free for the reading. The book has become required reading for bloggers (thanks to Steve Rubel for pointing to Hugh Macleod that pointed to the Cluetrain website).

It doesn't seem that long ago that the Cluetrain boys came to Washington, DC and spoke to Netpreneurs...

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March 29, 2005

Open Standards – A Call To Action

NTEN stands for Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network and is an organization that "works to support the diverse people and organizations who help nonprofits understand and employ technology effectively".

Their blog has an interesting post on open standards:

Open Standards – A Call To Action
http://nten.typepad.com/forecast/2005/02/open_standards_.html

Despite recent innovations, technology in politics and the social sector too often limits rather than enables people and organizations to collaborate, share information, and solve problems.

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March 22, 2005

LISTSERV Choice Awards

disclaimer: L-Soft powers AdMarketing, and other Morino Institute lists that I'm involved with. I also like the company.
   
L-Soft, the email management list company, recently celebrated its 10th anniversary with the LISTSERV Choice Awards.  The Awards recognized the "seven most interesting, creative and innovative LISTSERV e-mail lists in the world".

The award list is interesting. DorothyL: A Unique Community of Mystery Lovers won the The E-Mail Community Award Winner.  The other study to check out is: E-Mail Marketing Award: Stockholm International Fairs.

"Today our database contains over half a million registered email addresses of visitors who receive their exhibition tickets and other information via the Internet," explains Kinna Jonsson, project manager at Stockholm International Fairs. "By using email we are able to deliver customized information and new services to optimize visitors' experiences."

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March 01, 2005

What is Open Source Marketing?

Scoble points to the ChangeThis Manefesto: What is Open Source Marketing?

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February 20, 2005

vermin of communication

Amy Gahran, of CONTENTIOUS, has written a really good series on Handling Porcupines, Trolls, and Other Online Vermin.

Contrary to popular opinion, the internet is not really about technology. It’s about people, specifically how people communicate.

In my time on the internet, I’ve encountered just about every kind of online vermin. At times, I admit, I’ve even participated in the pestilence. Over the years I’ve learned some useful strategies for handling conflicts with each of the major online pests. In this series, I’ll share these tips.

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February 16, 2005

Email is dead (again)

UPDATE:

Actually, email is still dead. ;) Since I was the first person to stick my neck out there and SAY that, everything old is new again.

Chris brings up a great point with his comment to this post. Everything old IS new again. People use the term 'newsreader' when they talk about RSS feeds. Last time we heard about newsreaders, Deja News still archived newsgroups.

If I close my eyes and listen to talk of RSS ad opportunities, I think it's 1995 (?) and I'm listening to Phil Tanny of OakNetPub.com or Ros Resnick talking...  When I hear the talk of 'citizen journalism', I think back to the earlier days of community building.

Let's just hope that CEOs don't start talking about 'monetizing members' to soon...

===========
Chris Pirillo likes RSS. Who doesn't? More: Bye Bye Email? (compliments of adrants)

RSS is 'push' without the 'proprietary,' Pirillo pointed out. "Right now, it complements email, (but) tomorrow, it will replace news delivery.

Spam, which is the 800-pound gorilla responsible for most enterprise email blacklists and whitelists, is impossible via RSS. "Because the user controls his or her subscription, RSS subscriptions imply confirmation that he or she wants to receive your message," Pirillo added.

I guess this means that we're OK until companies and others start to push out unwanted info. through RSS readers.

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February 10, 2005

Why Craigslist works (Poynteronline)...

Steve Outing, who has recently posted on citizen journalism, has a nice entry on Craigslist's classified ad model: Poynter Online - E-Media Tidbits

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Shady Web of Affiliate Marketing

Wired News: Shady Web of Affiliate Marketing (from reachcustomersonline)

The biggest annoyance on the internet is not the guy trying to sell you a knockoff watch or prescription painkillers, it's the marketing scheme that rewards spammers who drive customers to his site.

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February 09, 2005

Tips for better webinars

You can't argue with Brian Carroll's B2B Lead Generation Blog results when he talks about a 255% increase in webinar registrations. He also has a nice graphic that shows where webinars fit into lead generation.

 

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January 10, 2005

Most Hated Advertising Techniques (Jakob Nielsen's Alertbox)

A recent column from Jakob Nielsen's Alertbox.

Most Hated Advertising Techniques (Jakob Nielsen's Alertbox).

People often have strong negative visceral reactions to ads that commit the sins listed in the table. One user, referring to an ad that automatically started playing audio, wrote: "IF ANYTHING COULD BE WORSE THAN POP-UPS, THIS IS IT. I HATE THIS AD. HATE HATE HATE."

Another user entered the following comment on a major website's feedback form: "You people should be ashamed of yourself! I did not ask to have 3 pop ups come across my screen when I visit you. I do not visit singles sites, and I don't want to add 4 inches.

As a matter of fact, I don't use any of the services that pop up on my screen. I think it is disgusting that you money hungry bastards have infringed on my computer for your own selfish gain. From this moment on, I am boycotting you, and I am advising EVERYONE I know to do the same thing. Down with you and your pop up ads."

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January 04, 2005

Missed opportunity

With all of the good press that companies like Amazon and Apple are getting for helping out tsunami relief efforts, it's surprising to see this global firm's homepage broadcast the message but not include a link...

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January 03, 2005

Zack Rosen's advice for the News & Record

More citizen journalism...  This advice for the Greensboro News & Record Newspaper comes from Zack Rosen-- founder of CivicSpace and nephew of Jay Rosen. Jay actually began the conversation about this newspaper here.

Zack Rosen: My Advice for the News & Record

My Uncle Jay gave me a writing assignment last Thursday:

    I want 400 words from you on what you think the News & Record and the bloggers of Greensboro should do...

I’ve been enjoying my nearly two year school work hiatus but there was no getting out of this one.

"Look to Kos. He has a real community. 10,000+ active particpants regularly participate in his space. They converse, peer-moderate, scheme, and organize day in and day out on his site. They come up with incredible ideas, rally their fellow 'kossacks' around them, and galvanize them into action..."

 

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December 24, 2004

Links matter

Last night, I checked my blog's referrer logs. Traffic is obviously light but I'm interested in how people find me (note to self: bloglines).  In the referrals, I saw that someone had visited through a Google search on advertising. The actual search was on Cary Hatch advertising. Cary Hatch runs Washington, DC ad shop MDB Communications.

I wrote a short entry on Cary some time ago. Googling Cary's name + advertising now brings up my blog as the 1st search result, even before her own company! When I Google just Cary's name, my blog still appears in the Top 5 listings.

Searching Cary's company MDB Communications doesn't include the blog in search results, but I wonder what would happen to the listings if I did blog the company (vs the owner). I also wonder how much Cary paid to optimize her website and what their linking strategy is?

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December 22, 2004

Yahoo! Mail vs RSS

Well, I just got the latest copy of the well respected EmailUniverse Ezine-Tips with the subject line: [Ezine-Tips] CAN-SPAM ACT New Rulings Heads Up.

Only problem was that it ended up in my Yahoo! Mail [BULK] filter...

Funny, I have no problem getting Chris Knight's other, most excellant [EmailUniverse] newsletters through my RSS feed.

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December 14, 2004

AOL with your paper and coffee?

This morning, I was greeted by the friendly AOL mascot shrink-wrapped with my Washington Post newspaper. The AOL offer and CD included 1099 hours FREE and 10 Games FREE. 

While marketing employees come and go, it seems one tried and true AOL acquisition program remains to be the CD-ROM give way.

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December 12, 2004

More citizen journalism

Steve Outing has an interesting post on citizen journalism and big media companies. He mentions local start-up backfence that seasoned entrepreneur Susan DeFife is involved with.

While at the Netpreneur Program, I got to know the folks over at restonweb. I think that they had the same hyper local, advertising idea as some of the newer websites. This was years ago so it'll be interesting to see how much has changed.

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December 06, 2004

E-Mail Creative: The HTML/Text Struggle

Jeanne Jennings mentions several AdMarketing subscribers and a recent list discussion in today’s ClickZ:  E-Mail Creative: The HTML/Text Struggle

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June 13, 2004

Bobquits.com

Bobquits.com

The Bobquits.com campaign is plastered around Washington, D.C for the month of June. The campaign uses traditional exposure/billboards and the Internet to spread the word. The online portion is geared towards those with broadband access. The stories that readers send in are the best part of the website.

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