News from others

Over three years ago, I blogged about the efficacy of ClickZ for website user session information. But there's so much more to the site: statistics, white papers, news articles, expert columnists. It is, as it claims, "news and expert advice for the digital marketer."

When doing research for a question on boats over 34ft in length on the DMV website I found it did not provide useful information so I had to expand my search. While doing my expanded search I found a website http://www.boatinfoworld.com/boat/registrations/allegany-county-ny-new-york.asp that provided a description of the boat owners by state and then a further division by county. The site can provide the address of people who have a boat license as well as the length and docking port of the boat. I figured this would be useful information for people who need to know more info about boat owners.

Small businesses are less likely to have their own graphic designers on staff, so knowing how and where to find designers is important.

The following article describes 10 Fantastic Places for Finding Designers Online. These various tools allow users to find professional designers by location, expertise and to read and write reviews of their work.

Your Business Cards - Top 10 Blunders

Duct Tape Marketing
By Barbara Wayman
Published 02/28/2010

This article covers some key tips on what not to do to create an attractive and useful business card, most of which boil down to 'don't make it look homemade.' and on the other hand there are these great examples: CreativeBits

Someone recently e-mailed me one those heart-tugging stories. This one starts: "A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: 'I am blind, please help.' There were only a few coins in the hat." Usually, these messages get quickly deleted, but this particular one did not.

Go read it here. Or here or here.

The business librarian in me focused on one particular line in the Moral of the Story category: "Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively."

The man rewriting the sign put a creative spin on the situation. He also recognized that doing things the way it had been done before - using the original wording - wasn't that successful, and the methodology had to change. And of course, the overriding message, which we at the Research Network embrace fully, is that signage matters. A lot.

These lessons seem applicable to any entrepreneur.

This article ("Social Media Helps Some Small Businesses Endure Bad Economy") is something you've seen before, but it bears repeating. Use of Facebook, Twitter, et al. requires imagination, just like any marketing campaign would (but at a much better price). This article focuses on the efforts of certain eating establishments. For those clients seeking inspiration, read on.

Mapping Technology Used in Haiti After Quake

Every business owner knows that during a recession, it is difficult for any business to maintain previous levels of income. But after a recession ends, how does a company bounce back? Below are some articles that offer tips and success stories that will help your business exit the recession prepared for the turn around.

9% of Companies Emerge from the Recession Stronger - Here's How (BNET - Harvard Business)

How to Reach an Audience Forever Changed by the Recession (Chief Marketer)

It’s all well and good to talk about the best business uses of Facebook and the best strategies for creating Facebook Fan Pages. But pictures and examples are worth a thousand words.

That’s why this piece from Mashable is particularly helpful:
5 Fantastic Facebook Fan Page Ideas to Learn From

Some tips:

You can have a great looking fan page, but your fans are still going to want to DO something. Good example: Gap’s Baby Gap tab encourages parents to post pictures of their Gap-clad tykes.

Remember that fans want to get something useful from your Page. You can customize your landing page to spell out the reasons to become a fan (like prizes!), just like Walgreens.

If you’re not sure how to build a custom landing page for your Fan page, just follow the links to this article, How to Build a Facebook Landing Page for Your Business.