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Social Media Caters to Democratized Entertainment

Monday, August 30th, 2010

This year’s Emmy Award Show had the most tech savvy host the show has ever seen, and this was no mistake. Jimmy Fallon has been integrating The Emmys with Twitter, Facebook and other social networks since last week, motivating fans to get involved in the whole experience. Jimmy Fallon included his his over 2 million Twitter followers by reading their Tweets on live TV, and by giving them insights to what hosting The Emmy Award Show is like. This blog will be discussing the democratization of TV and other outlets of media, and providing you with the tools to get the vote of popularity.

Making an award show entertaining is no easy feat, but with a lot of hype and attempts at hilarity this year’s Emmys came really close. This year’s opening performance featured a large variety of TV stars, such as Betty White, Tina Fey, Jon Hamm, and Jorge Garcia from ‘Lost’. The main idea behind this all inclusive opening act was to perform in a Glee Club competition, and the song they chose to recreate was The Boss’ Born To Run. After watching the entire opening act it occurred to me that they we able to combine an American icon; Bruce Springsteen, the Glee club, stars from hard hitting dramas, hilarious comics and flamboyant fashion designers. The show opened with a very approachable cast because a member from each genre was present, so immediately all TV fans felt like they were being catered to in some way.

Engaging the fans was a prevalent theme in this year’s Emmys and there was no better example of this than the online presence of backstage cameras next to the live Twitter feed.

This cross over theme continued with Jimmy Fallon’s comical depiction of Sir Elton John, Boys II Men, and Green Day’s Billy Joe Armstrong. This compilation of a wide variety of artists was another attempt to speak to the complex collection of TV fans which were present for the show. Even advertisements running throughout the show followed the cross over lead when the cast from ‘Community’ enjoyed a ride together in the new Infinity QX56.

Because there are so many options for customers in this democratized world of media, companies have to beware of trends and the preferences of their customer’s. This truth is exemplified with MySpace’s recent partnership with Facebook, enabling the synchronization of of their content on to Facebook.

This synchronization is a great example of a company staying nimble to a client’s needs, as apposed to trying to combat stiff competition.

I am officially out of room, but I do want to leave you with this quick link to all of the award wining shows from this years Emmy Award Show. Also for more tips on how to stay ahead in the world of SEO check out Wpromote online.

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Posted in Blogging, Business, Content Marketing, Daily non news Stories of Interest, Editorial, Internet News, Marketing, Online Advertising, SEO, Social Media, Technology, Twitter, Viral Marketing, Wpromote | No Comments »

Contextual Advertising with PPC Campaigns

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

Where you get your information can say a lot about who you are and what your interests are. With the plethora of information available today relying on one news outlet almost seems impossible, but if that happens to be the case for you please use the content of this blog to become more familiar with the abundance of information that is at your fingertips. This blog will provide a wide variety of outlets for general news, niche updates, and a look at news filters that publish content for specific demographics. For any online marketers out there this blog will also show you how to find the specific venue or audience to speak to for PPC campaigns based on various online analytics.

screen-shot-2010-08-23-at-53827-pm According to my Google analytics Weather.com is one of the most visited news websites right now, but because this blog is written from Los Angeles I will have to trust Google that this is an essential website across the country. The runner up for the most visited news website is CNN.com. Not a big surprise, given that CNN is a Turner channel, which is owned by the conglomerate TimeWarner. CNN has the resources to provide coverage of events around the world, so why wouldn’t they have a commonly known and relied upon website. One of the most popular newspapers in the United States also has the third most visited news website, NYTimes.com. The next two most popular news websites are The Huffington Post and Foxnews.com. These two websites typically represent the liberal and conservative points of view on any given topic, so I will let you visit both to construct your own opinion.

screen-shot-2010-08-23-at-71138-pm

Once you have checked your emails and are caught up with the day there might be a slight inclination to see what trouble Hollywood is up to. The collage above represents the 6 most popular websites to visit when hunting for current gossip. Again the top runners are not a huge surprise because they are supported by very large media companies. There is only one website up there that is not owned by a large media conglomerate, and that is the blog Perez Hilton. I will not be supplying the URLs for these sites because I don’t want to compete for your attention.

screen-shot-2010-08-23-at-73817-pm I have already run out of room, but just in case the guys have not found all of their essential tips for the day, check out the pile of logos above for a nudge in the right direction. If I only had five minutes to spare for guy advice, I would check out the home pages of Men’s Health, ESPN, and Google Trends.

Being in Marketing I know that it is very important to stay up to the moment in a wide variety of topics, so I also rely on websites that aggregate popular topics like PopURLS.com. Just like I rely on websites to provide me with the latest updates in news, companies should rely on their PPC campaign managers to determine what sites are applicable to their sought after demographic. A very successful tactic in reaching out to a specific demographic is contextual advertising. I am all out of room for this entry, so you are going to have to go to that last link to find out how this PPC approach works so well.

Please let me know if I missed any informative news websites or your favorite site to stay in the loop.

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Posted in Affiliate Marketing, Blogging, Business, Daily non news Stories of Interest, Editorial, Google, Internet News, MSN, Marketing, Online Advertising, PPC, Technology, Viral Marketing, Wpromote, Yahoo!, ppc management | No Comments »

Apps for the Real-Time Era

Monday, August 16th, 2010

Interacting online with real-time media is quickly becoming a leading trend in recently released websites, content, and applications for smart phones. Staying updated and informed about the most recently released information is a feature that websites or applications have to offer in order to stay relevant. Companies and concepts have emerged that cater to this constant real-time release of information like Twitter, Digg, Facebook, Gilt, and many more. This article will help you understand why this trend is about to be integrated into your daily life, and will give you a look into some of the most popular real-time websites and applications that are only a few hours new.

For those who have not heard yet, ESPN released a real-time media application that is similar to Foursquare late last week. This application, named Passport, allows you to check into sporting events, see who is there, and converse with other attendees. This application will allow true fans to declare there unwavering dedication to their team, and provide another platform for immense amounts of trash talking. Philo and Miso are new real-time applications that allow people to chat about TV shows currently airing on public platforms. These applications, will be apparent to mainstream app users by the Fall, and will undoubtedly continue to partner with cable conglomerates like Miso’s relationship with TNT.

Participating in real-time media provides extremely useful analytical information for companies, and that is why companies like Gap have implemented promotions for customers who check into Foursquare when showing up to shop. Gap offered 25% off a foursquare participant’s entire purchase last weekend when they checked in, but because of the lack of advertisements for this event almost no one was aware of this opportunity. Be on the look out for additional events like these in the future.

Blurring the line between entertainment on your phone and the real world is also something that real-time media is trying to offer with certain apps. SCVNGR is a site that tries to link experiences in the real world with your phone by placing you on scavenger hunts with people in your area. This app allows you to check into cafes or any location but also alerts you to scavenger hunts or activities that people are engaging in. I am also reminded by my hunger that their are applications that give you up-to-the-moment announcements of where LA food trucks can be found.

The underlying factors of immediate interaction with real-time updates in entertainment, news, and contacts is the enjoyment people get by staying informed, and the benefits advertisers obtain by staying fresh on the minds of their consumers. The constant presence of a company’s message is a dream come true for advertisers, but is easily disguised as daily entertainment. The introduction of new interactive information is a great tool for a site’s SEO attempts as well, so integrating games or a reward system in your content is a great incentive to get customers to continually return to your site or app.

Please leave your favorite real-time website below so we can all stay in the loop.

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Posted in Blogging, Business, Google, Internet News, Marketing, Mobile marketing, Online Advertising, Random!, SEO, Social Media, Technology, Twitter, Wpromote | No Comments »

Start an Online Buzz with PPC

Monday, August 2nd, 2010

Are you trying to promote an event? Are you looking for the most entertaining way to spend your day? Then look no further because this article has every website, email update, blog and tool for staying in the loop and ahead of the crowd. screen-shot-2010-08-02-at-80944-am Let’s start with finding a great party first, then we’ll move on to how you can promote your own.

Here are a few websites that highlight the most exciting events happening in your city. Thrillist does a great job of updating you on restaurant openings, coupons for local activities, all types of events, new products relative to your preferences, and news appropriate for your demographic. Thrillist provides these services for Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, New York, London, and many more cities across the globe. This extensive collection of prudent information pertaining to party goers is also an essential tool for vacations, so you don’t look like such a tourist.

If you enjoy having a good time, all the time, then check out (your city).going.com, for example losangeles.going.com. This website is very similar to Digg, or the organic search functions of Google, because the most popular events stay towards the top of screen-shot-2010-08-02-at-95422-am the page.

Here is a quick collection of websites that aggregate announcements of local events, parties and concerts; Urbandaddy.com, gets you in the know, RunDown.com, allows you to stay up to date with great events and the latest viral sensations, DailyCandy.com, is for the ladies and fashionable conscious, and for the most comprehensive collection of consumer reviews I would check out Citysearch.com or Yelp.com.

Here is a quick list of websites that aggregate cultural events, just in case you want to impress a date with your intellectual side. Public radio stations provide a plethora of interesting events, which are typically free or inexpensive. Local news papers are always a great tool for searching through your city’s interesting activities. For example the LA Times assembles a diverse list of popular events and places. For an easy way to search through events associated with museums across the country, check out MetMuseum.com.

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If you want to promote your own amazing event, whether it is aimed at hundreds or thousands of people, local PPC campaigns are a powerful way to approach a large amount of people. Experienced SEO firms that handle PPC campaigns typically provide a team of dedicated account executives, keyword research, 24 hour monitoring of account’s PPC activity, optimization of search engine campaigns, and many more objectives that synchronize your online marketing goals.

If you know of any other websites that highlight upcoming events, or if you want to promote your own, please leave a comment below.

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Posted in Blogging, Business, Daily non news Stories of Interest, Google, Internet News, Marketing, Online Advertising, PPC, Technology, Viral Marketing, Wpromote, ppc management | 2 Comments »

Bogusky Leaves the Business…Now What?

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

Last Friday, advertising icon Alex Bogusky announced his official retreat from the industry that made him, and the brands and brand ambassadors he helped share with the world, a household name…for those who work in advertising, that is. Anyone who does knows advertising is one of those industries that create its own superstars, and we’re not talking the Brad and Angelina kind.

If you are a copywriter, you know the name David Ogilvy, and if you are a designer, Philip Starke you’ve studied, at least enough to discover you found his modern minimalism boring and his architecture pandering to the hipster masses. I actually like Starke, but that’s not the point.

Advertising is a big deal. Despite upheavals and transformations, shifts from traditional to online outlets, less security in tried-and-true methods like TV commercials, and drastic cuts in spends across the board, the business and art, at least for now, seems here to stay…with or without Bogusky leading the fray.

If you don’t know Bogusky, his story, while incredibly interesting for those who appreciate this sort of thing (read: ad nerds, historians, wannabes, business minded creative types, etc.), is summed up relatively simply:

1. Boy is born
2. Boy meets girl
3. Boy realizes he needs a fast car and sizeable bank account to win girl
4. Boy discovers his way with people, human psychology, and yes, words
5. Boy turns into advertising mogul overnight, and becomes the man we know today as Alex Bogusky…gets the car, bank account, and definitely the girl…for starters

Just kidding. Sorta. I’ll bet 1-4 are relatively on the mark, though I haven’t studied his autobiography (is there one?) or been privy to a phoner with the ad mogul, otherwise known as “Ad Jesus” to insiders, but the story behind the agency he led for years is a roller-coaster ride of ambition, passion, power, and success, and is worthy of much more than the few words next to #5 above. If you want to learn more, I recommend these links:

1. Embrace For Impact: Alex Bogusky Discusses Social Media… [huffingtonpost.com]

2. 2008 Agency of the Year: Crispin Porter + Bogusky[creativityonline.com]

3. Can Alex Bogusky Help Microsoft Beat Apple? [fastcompany.com]

The iPad: communications device or advertising funnel?

The biggest thing to know about Bogusky is he is known for a style or method of approaching a campaign and in theory, has taught his disciples well enough so they can act in his stead and bring the industry more of the same stuff for which Bogusky became synonymous: innovation, inspiration, and success. Still, as one who works in online advertising, and enjoys looking back at the Golden days à la Mad Men , I can’t help but view Bogusky’s exit as a bookend to an era.

Yes, we know it’s all going online and every marketer must integrate (integrate, integrate). The word “integrate” is used so often in so many contexts these days, I’m not exactly sure what it means anymore — it depends who you ask.

It’s not that change is new to advertising; but does anyone else see Bogusky’s departure as a bookend, milestone, turning point?

Whether or not the creative legend intended his resignation to mark the end of an era, it’s tough not to point and stare as the dust settles in Ad-Jesus’ wake, if not simply to make the point that times have (officially) changed. Now what?

The shift in the way we consume marketing messages — via Facebook updates, word-of-mouth sent via text and Twitter, and slick viral marketing campaigns that look like music videos — has blurred the line between entertainment and advertising. What was once tied to specific experiences, such as watching TV or listening to the radio, has become so tightly integrated with out everyday lives it is difficult to escape, and we’ve learned not to mind.

In the absence of Bogusky and his creative genius, will we see another individual emerge as the industry’s flag-bearer or in today’s world of social media, mobile technology, and real-time communication, will it be the voice of the crowd that reigns supreme?

Do moguls still matter, or do people and the way we connect with one another matter more? Post your thoughts below!

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Tags: bogusky leaves business, crispin porter + bogusky, state of the advertising industry
Posted in Business | 4 Comments »

Monetizing your blog and minimizing costs, without sacrificing Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

SEO - Expert post - Aaron Kronis is the SEO Director for Wpromote Inc.

Monetizing your blog and minimizing costs, without sacrificing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) efforts.

Today I’m going to touch base on different ways to monetize your blog and the importance of using more than one method to achieve results while keeping a focus on SEO at all possible times.

Think about it.

You can’t control the traffic that comes to your site, and much will bounce due to the nature of the Internet. However, if you do get enough sheep to graze in your pastures long enough, you can put enough pots of honey out there that some will click on your ‘deals’ to take advantage of your breaks and affiliate referrals to make purchases you suggest to them.

Ways to make money from your website:

Well, first you need traffic! I suggest focusing on building a community of recurring users that refer their friends to participate in your website’s discussions when possible to grow a user base over time.

This is not easy, it is hard work and takes time and passion. If you are looking for a quick buck, do something else!

If Google Analytics on your site shows that you have barely any repeat visitors, then your ‘community’ may simply exist when new users come to your site and never return. This means you are mostly getting new visitors based on the monthly global and local searches done in the search engines.

Once you have roughly 5K uniques per month, you can start things rolling. To get there, use Twitter, Facebook and any type of online word of mouth you can to promote your website’s great content.

Hopefully you were smart enough to create at least one interesting article or download that people would want to view.

Affiliate Revenue Made Easy

Other ideas? Perhaps you wrote a cool e-book and offer a free download of it for a limited time.

Next, once you have some traction based on positive user reviews and twitter mentions, you start selling it for $2.99.

You then could offer affiliate revenue for $1.00 per download sold earning you $1.99 for those and $1.00 to the affiliate.

What are the fixed costs of being a blogger?

All of this is possible, you just have to plan it out and start trying things. Your costs are really not all that high when you think about it. The largest investment is your time. Thus this can be a very lucrative way to do things.

The main things you will need to pay for are:

Annual Reliable Website Hosting.

While this can be very cheap, it may benefit your SEO efforts if you purchase things like

Private Domain Registration

Dedicated IP

Virtual private server hosting

Dedicated server for shopping carts

Content each month from a professional content writer

Infographics about your industry from a graphic artist/programmer

Content Writers
Graphic Design costs for new images where needed (i.e. creating digital products like e-books, or other downloads.
Site Admin / Support
Website Community Management

What to use?

The main ways that bloggers make money is from advertisers who want to get the eyeballs of the site’s visitor who frequents a specific type of content to look at their ads during that visit.

Adsense: Although many people feel that the presence of Google Adsense can be detrimental to the site’s experiences this can account for a large portion of the site’s online revenue. Right now, the economy is such that it may not be feasible to get a lot of direct ad sales.

Amazon: This affiliate program can really make you a lot of money and is easy to setup and tailor to fit your niche.

E-Books: Create a free e-book about your industry and make sure it is something that you would download. Use this to get traffic, then start charging a small amount for them, offering affiliate programs to others for a small cut. The small programs really add up over time!

Forums/Posting Boards:

Having a ‘Craiglist.org’ type of area on your site that allows users to post jobs, announcements, or whatever can be a quick and easy stream of back end income if you have a community already. Simply selling ads for $25-50 each can help you cover your car payments if you have enough traffic to warrant your users to post there in your ‘highly specific’ niche.

To Sum It All Up?

The key is to not put all your ‘advertising’ revenue eggs in one basket, to pay attention to what your users want/are doing and to keep a pulse on your market/niche. Keep your users informed of the latest changes in your industry and try to engage them wherever possible. If you can feature some type of User Generated Content (UGC) on your page that will cause them to tell others about your site, then you have them working FOR you now. It is not easy, but hard work and great quality websites will pay off.

Good luck and work/think hard.

Till next time,

Aaron @KRONiS

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