Curious about more ways to boost your ranking on organic Google searches? We thought you might! In a previous blog, we gave a quick overview on the importance of blogging for search engine optimization and now we are diving into another powerful tool: directory listings. Linking your website to other reputable sites will give you a big thumbs up from Google. Why? Google knows that when your site link pops up all over the web, your website is relevant and contains information searchers are interested in.

There are thousands of directories your business can connect with. Some directories require a fee but with a little research, you will be able to find many that are free. We did a little of the leg work for you. Here are a few general directories you may be interested in using for your business:

• Google Places
• Manta
• Merchant Circle
• Yahoo Local
• Superpages.com
• Oodle
• Clush
• Rate It All
• About Us
• Vast
• Yelp

Some of these sites also include user review sections. When signing up for these sites, don’t forget to check back for reviews to see feedback from your customers. If the option is available, provide as much information about your business as possible including address, telephone number, website and links to your social media sites. This is another way for potential customers to find you!

The Viral Video. Clients want one, marketers want to create one and the public loves to watch them. The internet has seen some incredible viral videos over the years and with the invention of YouTube, the world can find entertainment in one convenient place. Marketing professionals have embraced this trend. The viral video is the perfect complement to an advertising campaign or an inexpensive alternative to a television ad. The catch: there is no way to truly predict if a campaign will go viral. The payoff:  a viral video will be seen by millions of devoted fans which could translate into an incredible return on investment.

But what makes a video “go viral”? If anyone had this concept down to a science, then he or she would be very rich. There is one brand that seems to know what it’s doing. Mashable points to Procter and Gamble’s Old Spice “Smell Like a Man, Man” campaign that has taken the internet by storm.  Paving the way to viral success, “The Old Spice Guy” has become an internet sensation. The commercial first became popular after airing during the Super Bowl. Wieden + Kennedy, the agency that is responsible for the Old Spice boom, continued building on the viral nature of the video by creating more videos in direct response to Twitter posts from fans and even celebrities. The result: millions of views of Old Spice videos and an increase in sales. Not too shabby for a campaign fueled by the internet!

Want more of the Old Spice Guy? Check out the rest of the videos on the Old Spice YouTube Channel.

One in two Americans will have a smartphone by Christmas 2011. This prediction from Nielson may shock many but most marketers are not surprised. With the decline in cost and the rise in availability of applications, smartphones are quickly taking over the cell phone market. How can your business keep up?

Be  sure you can continue to be found even while someone is on the go. Smartphones and other devices like iPads work differently than a computer so be sure to optimize your website for mobile technology. Also, take advantage of free services such as Google Places. By registering with Google Places, your business can be found more easily by mobile device. Your telephone number and address will be accessible for the customer on the go.

Now it’s time to get creative with your marketing. Mobile apps are where it’s at! If you have the resources, creating even a basic mobile application can provide another way to interact with your consumer. A mobile application that is relevant and useful to your audience will have a significant return on investment.

Mobile applications are not the only way to interact in the growing mobile market. The wildly popular QR (Quick Response) Code is making its way to the United States. Already a hit in many countries overseas, the QR code was originally developed in Japan as a more efficient barcode system. Now, it has turned our world into a digital scavenger hunt. If you spot a QR Code, grab your smartphone and use your barcode scanning application to read the code. Once the scanner reads the code, the image will provide you with a surprise. It may be a coupon, a link to a website, an image, a video, a game, a song or anything the creator dreams up. QR Codes can be printed on practically everything. We have seen them on billboards, hats, magazines, t-shirts and even coffee mugs. The sky is the limit!

Don’t forget the traditional use of coupons and offers during your mobile campaign. Ashley Drummond Viebrock, a Mass Media Marketing Account Executive, says she loves receiving coupons on her phone because she remembers to use them immediately. As a recycling enthusiast, she also likes that mobile coupons are environmentally friendly which translates into savings at the printer.

The links below provide a wealth of information on mobile marketing. Read and enjoy!

Article: 1 in 2 Americans will have a smartphone by Christmas 2011

Mobile Marketing Popularity Rapidly Grows

Try out our QR code featured here in our blog. Don’t have a QR code reader on your smartphone? Try using the ShopSavvy application.

This is one of the most important concepts in marketing but with the hustle and bustle of running a business, it often gets ignored. This  common problem has plagued everyone from Fortune 500 companies to local Mom & Pop stores. Luckily, keeping a campaign consistent is something an experienced advertising account executive is very familiar with. To help us learn more, we invited Mass Media Marketing Account Executive Ashley Drummond Viebrock to share her thoughts on what makes a campaign consistent.

Ashley recommends starting with your website. A website is the hub of your marketing campaign. Think of it as your 24 hour store front. If your brand identity and marketing message are not clear to the consumer on your website, you are hindering customer calls or visits to your store. This is your opportunity to show the world how you envision your business. The look and feel of your website should be reflected in all business materials.

In all marketing advertisements and materials, keep your logo, color schemes, fonts and verbiage consistent. Feel free to vary photos and images on your ads but don’t go for a drastic change. Retaining the same look and feel in your advertisements allows potential customers to recognize and remember your business. Think back to your high school or college sports teams. You would never catch a Georgia Bulldog wearing orange onto the field! Keep this in mind and keep your business materials uniform. Remember to always include your phone number and website address on advertisements so potential customers can find you!

You should also keep consistency when purchasing ad space during your campaign. This takes commitment. Our clients who see the most success designate a budget for the month that they are comfortable with. They remain committed and consistent when running their ads which typically translate into a nice return on their investment.

Mass Media Marketing Owner Rick Donaldson and Account Executive Courtney Prouty leave us with these words of wisdom: “It can be tempting for clients to change up their message frequently because they want to see something different, but it’s important to remember that just when you become tired of the message, that’s the time when the message is just beginning to resonate with your audience – so stay the course!”

What is a quick and easy way to keep your website fresh and up-to-date? What could you do to keep your website coming up in Google searches? The answer is easier than you think! We at Mass Media Marketing are huge proponents of using blogging as a business tool. But you may be wondering how or even why you should invest time in creating and maintaining a blog.

At our recent seminar, we discussed the numerous ways in which a blog can benefit your business and we thought we would discuss them further here.

First, blogs are great for search engine optimization. Blogging keeps content on your website updated so that Google will come and search your site more often. Using a blog also gives you the opportunity to add keywords to your website so that it can be easily found when someone is searching that topic. Also, if your content is informative, users of other sites will link to yours. All of these factors will increase your chances of someone finding your website when they are using a search engine.

Blogs are also a great way for you to enhance your relationship with your clients. You can keep them informed on what your organization is doing.  Think of your blog as a newspaper. You are the reporter covering the stories on your business. You are the authority on the subject! Keep in mind that your blog can also serve as a way to inform employees of what’s going on in your organization almost as a company newsletter. This is especially useful with a large organization with many members.

Now that you are ready to begin your writing you may be hitting a common roadblock for new bloggers: What will I write about? To begin, decide how often you would like to write an entry. We recommend writing at least one blog post a week. Keep in mind that a blog does not have to be extremely long. A few paragraphs will be fine. If you have more to say on the subject, by all means write away! Now begin thinking about your organization and your clients. Try answering some of the following questions to begin generating ideas:

• What are important topics about your industry?
• Are there any important events your organization is involved with or hosting in the future?
• What would you like your clients to know about your organization or industry?
• How is your organization structured?
• Feature star employees on your blog and their contributions to your organization
• What ‘hot topics’ are happening in the news involving your industry? Discuss your opinion of these topics on your blog and include a link to the news source.
• Does your organization have frequently asked questions from clients? Feature one and discuss it.
• Have a fantastic consumer or client? Feature them and ask them to provide a testimonial of their experience with your organization.
• Provide consumers/clients tips on how to use your product or service. For example, a flower arrangement company may want to write about creative ways to use the vase their gift came in.
• Totally stumped on ideas? Look for a little help! Have a guest blogger write a piece for you or interview an employee.

With a little creativity, you should always be able to generate new ideas for your organization’s blog. Happy blogging!

Still a little intimidated about blogging or just don’t have the time? Feel free to contact us at Mass Media Marketing! We are always ready to help.

The Addy’s were held this past Saturday night and Mass Media had a very good night, winning a total of 10 awards! Gold Addys included: Eufora Creditbuilder National Campaign (won 2), Champions Retreat Golf Club Website and The Bungalow Brochure for Champions Retreat. Silver Addys included: Crawford Creek Homes website, First Choice Home Builders Website, Hornes Pest Control Local TV Commercial, Mass Media Marketing Holiday Card and Warm and “Snuggie” Holiday Gift 2009. Bronze Addys included: United Way of the CSRA Local TV Commercial.

None of this would have been possible without the awesome work and dedication from our wonderful and talented staff! We also want to thank and congratulate our clients, without them none of this is possible. It’s always a collaborative effort to come up with award winning, result driven creative. This was a great way to start off the New Year and close out 2009 with a bang!

Thanks again to all our clients who have helped make Mass Media Marketing such a success!

We are proud to announce the Grand Opening of Mill Branch, a Crown Community, in Grovetown, Georgia. Mill Branch is located minutes from I-20, the new Grovetown Walmart and Columbia County’s newest high school, Grovetown High School. Choose from 13 designer floor plans that offer four and five bedrooms and space from 2600 HSF to over 4100 HSF. With their partially finished basements homes, enjoy up to 7 bedrooms and 5 baths! Situated on gorgeous wooded homesites, these magnificent homes present features that will amaze you! Standard features include: granite counter tops, over-sized owner’s suites, extensive crown and custom moldings and much more! Homes starting from the $160’s. www.crownga.com

Check out our new website for Bojangles that just went live! www.bojland.com

Sign up with your email address for special offers like a Free BoBerry Biscuit!