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Greetings!
 Welcome to this month's issue of the Internet Minute. I know, I know... It's been a while since you've heard from me... Seems the summer just flew by and before I knew it, I was shoveling snow and looked up and 2011 is almost over.
To make it up to you, I've compiled some of the great resources that I've "stumbled across" over the past (*cough*) several months, and some other interesting tidbits that I hope will be of value to you.
I've got lots of stuff to share, so let's get going... I hope you enjoy my latest issue of the Internet Minute! Oh yeah, and have a great holiday season too!
-Eric
Questions or comments...? eric@poweredbywsi.com
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Are You Blogging Yet? Your Competition Might Be...
I read an article recently on Marketing Charts that talked about how blogs are becoming a popular way to market online (and promote what you do as a company). While in real estate the three most important elements to success are location, location, location - for online success (and to be found online) it's CONTENT, CONTENT, CONTENT. What better way to get useful and fresh information on your site than a blog! It should not come as a surprise that print magazines have decreased (as most all types of offline media are struggling these days). So, take a look at your marketing efforts, are you positioned to play in the "digital" space and connect with your customers online? Below is an interesting graphic that helps tell the story and you can read the full article here if you're interested in learning more. 
If you visit their site to read the full article, you'll find a link to download a more comprehensive December 2011 study from MarketingProfs and the Content Marketing Institute that also makes for some good reading. There appears to be continued use of e-newsletters, case studies, in-person events and videos by businesses as well. One thing's for sure, the ways you market your business is continually changing. If you'd like to chat about ways to help "keep up" let me know. I'm always happy to help! Oh, and if you want to get a blog started... yeah, we can do that too. |
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8 Small Business Social Media Tips From the Pros
 One of the e-newsletters that I read on a regular basis comes from the folks at the Social Media Examiner. This one about "Small Business Social Media Tips" was one that really hit home, as it reinforces all of the strategies that I've been recommending to my clients. Keep it real, make it interesting, leverage video, etc... Below is a quick summary of the eight items, but you can read the full article here if you'd like. - Show Them the "Real You"
- Pick One Thing and Do It Really Well
- Turn Your Facebook Page Into a Lead-Generating Machine
- Invest in a Great Twitter Design
- Bring Your Company Onto Video
- Learn How to Master Video Marketing
- Monitor Your Clients and Prospects
- Give Away the Secret Sauce
Are you engaged in social media or still on the fence? What's your take on the eight items above? If you're struggling with any of the items listed here, chances are you're not alone. Many businesses are challenged with just how social media "fits" with their overall strategy. Just remember, I'm right here if you need some help... |
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Recent Site Launches - Welcome to the "WSI Family"
One of the reasons the Internet Minute has been rather "silent" for the last few months is that we've been busy launching sites for some new clients. Here are some of our most recent additions to the WSI family. Thanks for selecting WSI as your partner in success! Nebraska Bankers Association 
www.nebankers.org The NBA's tagline is "Extraordinary Service for Extraordinary Members" and I'm here to tell you, they deliver! Not only have I had the pleasure of speaking for the NBA on a number of occasions at past conferences, but we're excited to have been chosen as their technology partner for their new website. It features secure member-only areas, online purchasing of supplies and materials, an online event calendar with registration and more. Astra Bank - Community Bank 
www.bankwithastra.com This community bank with offices in Kansas and Nebraska not only "spruced up" their look with a new website, but at the same time underwent a core technology conversion, offering their customers with a brand new (and improved) online banking system. Now their site provides visitors an image gallery of community photos, features their free gift for opening an account and has a blog (did you read the first article) to keep customers and the community informed on what's new at the bank. Plan & Act - Online Financial Planning 
www.planandact.com Are you ready for your retirement? When was the last time you even thought about your financial plan...? Plan & Act worked with WSI to deliver their online financial planning service, making it possible for the "everyday consumer" to afford and create their own personalized financial plan - completely online. The system's online, chat-like interface makes completing the process a breeze and if you'd like to get a FREE Financial Assessment, just Like 'em on Facebook and get started today. Together with their affordable money management solution, they are positioned to revolutionize the way consumers prepare for their financial future. If you're ready to take your online efforts to the next level in 2012, be sure to let me know. Whether that means a new website, staff training on social media, tips on blogging, help writing articles and even mobile marketing - WSI can be your one-stop solution. |
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Quick Tip: Boomerang Your Way to Better E-Mail Management!
If you're like me, you probably "live" in your e-mail and most of what you do on a daily basis revolves around incoming and outgoing messages. I have to admit, I absolutely LOVE this tool for e-mail management. I'm a Gmail (actually, Google Apps) user and recently found this great plugin called Boomerang and makes e-mail so much more productive. Don't worry, Outlook users there's an option for you (at the end).
The two main features with Boomerang are the ability to easily set reminders and allow for delayed delivery of messages. Here's how it works...
Reminders
Ever sent an e-mail to someone expecting a response, but then a few days (or weeks) go by before you realize you've not heard anything? Me too! With Boomerang you can automatically set reminders (right from within your e-mail) for the message to "come back" at a certain time frame (hour, day, week) if nobody responds. You can even set it to "come back" even if someone does respond, making it a good reminder/to-do tool.
Delayed Delivery
Maybe you're working on the weekend or late at night and want to send out an e-mail, but would prefer it goes out the following day or first thing Monday morning. With Boomerang you can create your message and then schedule it to go out when you want it to. This is great for setting reminders for meetings or other events when you know you'll want to send a note, but you can create the message when you're thinking of it, but have it go out when it's most relevant.
Bonus Feature: Recurring Messages
Normally I've had good luck using the "free" versions of online tools and typically don't end up needing to pay for the "premium version". This feature, however, is part of the "paid" version and I upgraded my account when the time came because I'm using it so much. I'm using it to set recurring messages (some to me as reminders, others to customers) for things that need to get done on a regular basis. Need that sales report on the second Monday of every month? Set a reminder to go out as a reminder and ensure that you get it on time. You can even set up e-mail reminders to help you "remember" an important birthday or anniversary (hint to all the married guys out there)!
"But I'm an Outlook User"
Not using Gmail? Well, there's an Outlook version that you can check out. Keep in mind, I've not tried this personally so I cannot vouch if it's as awesome as the Gmail version, but they have a free trial you can try.
Either way, let me know what you think! I'd love to get your feedback.
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Thanks for taking the time to read my newsletter. If you have suggestions for future issues or questions, don't hesitate to let me know. See you next month...
Sincerely Yours,
Web Development | Internet Marketing | Paid Search Management
SEO | Site Analytics | Conversion Strategies | E-Mail Marketing
Social Media | Online Document Management | Strategic Planning
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