Talk about Internet Branding - the video below has been viewed over 42 Million times on You Tube! It’s been commented on 22,162 and Favorited 150,885 times. Can you believe that? I’d be interested to know where this video has taken this comedian, Judson Laipply. With that type of traffic, I’m sure he’s had some amazing things happen with his business. All this funny stuff and he’s actually a professional motivational speaker.

Video posts, as we can see here, are another way we can market our products and services. Video advertising have definitely helped this guy get seen. Here’s some of the reason why:

Creativity - Also know as differentiation in the marketing world. As you think about your product, service or idea - are you one of millions trying to market the same thing? What differentiates you?

Wide Target Audience - Everybody likes comedy; everybody has at least danced once in their lifetime; This video was a compilation of different eras of music and dance that we can all relate to.

Hilarious! - Everybody likes good, clean humor. Just like I talked about the other day - word of mouth advertising can have a huge effect on the traffic you get to your website, repeat business, and bottom line income. I’m sure word of mouth advertising played a huge role in over 42 million people viewing and sharing this video. Then it was favorited 150,885 times.

Check it out!

No Comments »

When you see a great new movie, how many people do you tell? Why do you tell them? What’s your intent? Most likely you want them to see it too. No other type of advertising is more powerful than word of mouth. Your friend probably didn’t pay attention at all to the Hollywood hype about the movie, but they know you as a friend and respect your judgment.

If the show’s terrible the negative vibe will spread even faster than the positive. Statistics say that: “Negative word of mouth influences future patronage up to five times more than the person who experienced the problem first-hand…meaning that the original problem description is continually embellished as it passes from person to person.” (Verde Group and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania).

If you’ve been involved in marketing for some time, or even if you are just getting started, you probably know the result of negative word of mouth advertising too. Why do we tend to tell people a lot more about bad experiences we’ve had with people, businesses, or services? We all hate confrontation don’t we? It seems that some actually must like confrontation - they continue to be jerks over and over again. These business owners must have no idea about the effects negative word or mouth advertising can and will have on their business plan.

If I’m unhappy with a product, service, or employee of a company, I’m going to whatever I can to get things resolved. If they don’t make any changes or solve the problems, I’ll warn everyone I know to stay as far away from them as possible. My thought is that you never know the effects a bad product or unfriendly service may have on future business. Just like the smell of a stinky diaper, bad news spreads all over the place. You’d think someone would take it out to the trash sooner than later!

So, the point I’m trying to make is this: if you want your business to really prosper, to really get to a level you may have never dreamed of, be nice to people and follow the “golden rule!” It’s not really a new concept. Everyone likes friends; not many people like jerks. The effects of negative word of mouth advertising will have effects that we may never be able to track with our business.

3 Comments »

Had a great question from a client who is busting her butt on her new website: www.artistichomeowner.com: What is spam? This is a great question that needs to be cleared up, especially as you get a website started. Many of us have heard pharses like “keyword stuffing”, “black hat SEO”, “GoogleBombing”, SEM (Search Engine Manipulation), etc. All these describe spam. I found some good content by typing “What is spam” in Google.

Spam is flooding the Internet with many copies of the same message, in an attempt to force the message on people who would not otherwise choose to receive it. Most spam is commercial advertising, often for dubious products, get-rich-quick schemes, or quasi-legal services. Spam costs the sender very little to send — most of the costs are paid for by the recipient or the carriers rather than by the sender.

What do you all consider spam?

No Comments »

Talk about making a post on your blog to raise a ruckus, Steven Rubel has gone off his rocker by thinking that Wikipedia is a threat to Google!  Like Russ Page said, without Google many internet browsers probably wouldn’t even know Wikipedia exist3e.  I work with clients all the time who are brand new to the internet, eCommerce, search engines, and even copy and paste.  However, every single one of them knows what Google is.  I guarantee that, if I did a survey to ask normal internet users what Wikipedia was, the high majority of them would have no idea.  Sure, Wikipedia is getting more and more recognition, but a threat to Google? Yeah right!

I’m sure there are many who look at Google as the “WalMart of the internet” - taking over whatever they want; but the fact is, Google is the company we all look to.  Google’s acquisition of YouTube was ingenious: combining two powerhouses in to one big monopoly! Many of us have heard of the snowball effect where something starts out pretty small, but as it gains momentum, nothing can get in its way.  Google is the avalanche of the internet! Wikipedia, Yahoo, MSN, and whoever else…good luck slowing them down.

2 Comments »

I got this “Success Story” the other day from a client who is amazing! She runs a wall murals website and is an extreme “Success Story in the Making!” I look at this story as great proof that “Small Success leads to Big Success!” I really love what she shared about her experience with a joint venture or partnership pursuit. It goes to show that there still are really nice people out there waiting to give of their time and talents to help others without any expectation of return. Thanks for letting me post this Lisa! I’m sure it will help others to if they implement it in their business endeavors.

I am in the process of looking for business partners for my product. I have had to approach major corporations and the process has been interesting. Most executives are very hard to reach, and I usually have to make several phone calls to get a direct phone number or email.

Two days ago a Sunday I emailed the owner of the largest real estate agency in Orange County, New York. I had met the owner at a few social engagements, including a wedding, bar mitzvah and baby briss. As I do with all my emails, I followed up with a phone call. As usual, I was put through to a voicemail. I explained the nature of my business and asked if she would have any contact information, leads, information on anyone she knew who might be interested in my business. This was essentially a routine cold call.

To my surprise, this very busy woman called me back within the half hour. She said of course she remembered me and my husband. She was extremely friendly and said she probably didn’t get the email as she gets over 150 a day and deletes them for fear of viruses.

She said, absolutely, bring over business cards and she would have her secretary distribute them to all her brokers. I was so happy.

Then she offered advice: she said “Even though I don’t have to, I still work about 70 hours a week because I love what I do. In the beginning (1988) it was just a job that supplemented my husband’s salary and kept us knowing where out next meal was coming from.”

She said to distribute business cards to all the real estate agencies in the area. She explained that agents and brokers are salespeople and are usually very accommodating.

I came away from that phone call with such respect for this lady. It was easy to see how she was a self-made millionaire. She was very friendly, obviously a people person. She listened to me and said, “I love to help people whenever I can.” She freely gave of her time and knowledge. (bold added) And she said “I don’t ever want to guess where my next meal is coming from.” Humility, kindness, and sincerity–what a great work ethic.

This lady is how I aspire to be. She is still a regular person, but she is living her dream through her hard work and effort.

4 Comments »