Goog 411 : Say it and find it

By Brian | January 22, 2010

Have you heard about Google new phone directory service?
I just got a call for my listing and they wanted me to update/ confirm my listing with them.
So I did.

Watch the video to learn about this new free service from Google
1-8000goog-411

You don’t need a computer, an Internet connection, or even the keypad on your phone or mobile device. GOOG-411 is voice-activated, so you can access it from any phone (mobile or land line), in any location, at any time. For free. (*)

Dial (1-800) GOOG-411. Say where. Say what you’re looking for. GOOG-411 will connect you with the business you choose.

If you are calling from a mobile device, GOOG-411 can even send you a text message with more details and a map. Simply say “Text message” or “Map it.”

Topics: Business, Google, Videos, technology | No Comments »

Old and New, Friends and Thank You-s

By Brian | December 31, 2009

This blog posting goes out to everyone who has made it such a wonderful year for me, my business, and my family.
I found myself in downward economy last January, along with many other people.
I reached out to my family and they were there for me. I cherish that.
I reached out to my community and they recived me with welcoming arms and positive motivation.
I found new friends and colleagues that I knew were out there, but had yet to show themselves.

At this point, just 12 months later, I am in new place mentally, surrounded with new people and new opportunities.
I have even fulfilled or am in the process of fulfilling several lifelong dreams, like finally doing the Motorcycle Thing, rain or shine I'm riding baby!

A few people who have helped me out, made a difference, offered support, taught me something and offer so much back to our community here in Eugene Oregon.
Bernie Kitching of DoughCo.
Julianne Harris of Pre-Paid-Legal
Craig Tomlinson Eugene Real Estate
Patricia Rollins of EFI Printers Alliance
Thomas Price of TLP-Local to You & Green Lane
Amie Chaudoir of Reiki Results and Common Good Bank
Kerrie L. Harrigan of Zonta and Jus
Denise Vendley of Friday's at Five
Roka Walsh of Roka Walsh
Kim Crieger Goodwin:Crieger *Goodwin Real Estate Sales
Alison Kelly: Delano Designs
David and Michelle Reid of Elegant Sports Jewelry
Cally Duncan of Photography by Cally
Jamie Congedo: Voice Talent
Bree McKenzie LCC Consulting
Josh Dunn The Money Coach
Cindy Ingram: Booking & Promoting
Karen Rainsong of Rainsong Designs
Doug James of Bourland Printing Bradee Millon for choosing to Live Life!
Cliff Etzel of BluProjekt
Joan Gross: NS-Spa
Dale De Roos The Gentleman Coach
Denise Beins of CEO Systems
Eric Beins of Tradia
Kathleen Hogan Luxury Lap Desks
Sonja Frigaard: Events By Sonja
Jeannie Marr: River Road Health Mart
Stephanie Lichtenstein: Affiliate Marketing
Jason Burke my Acupuncturist (thank you)
Jack Stephens Natural Builder Network and Life Coach
Gail Taylor for connecting me with old friends via Facebook
Pamela Cournoyer: Communicate with Class
Michael Clement: Communicate with Class
and of course My Mother for always being there, being strong, supportive, loving unconditionally, and being an excellent roll model.

You all have made a difference in my life whether you know it or not. I thank you all for being the people you are and hope you will keep being the people you are in 2010 and beyond. May your personal lives and businesses continue to grow and be successful. May the community show you praise for your commitment to shopping local and sporting local small businesses. May you all have a Happy, Safe, and Successful New Year!…….And for all your mixed drinking be sure to check out over 9,000 mixed drink recipes at Pure Liquor

(shameless plug for one of my own sites)

Topics: Business, Eugene Oregon, Networking | 1 Comment »

Disc Golf : Selling a complete line of discs, clothing & accessories

By Brian | December 21, 2009

Have you heard of the sport of Disc Golf? This recent website development is geared to that market. Pure Disc Golf is a business created by, run by, and sport played by Andrew Rich. In his own words, "I always dreamed of running my own pro-shop, helping new players develop their skills, and fostering growth in the sport. "

Andrew came to me with his old website, that was using some sort of yahoo store template, that was in need of a whole new design and shopping cart system. Andrew has inventory stocked and ready to sell; Golf Discs, Branded Clothing, and disc golf accessories. I offered a shopping cart solution installed and set up ready for him to start selling, it even has live USPS shipping pricing. The cart is easily manageable by himself to add products and categories, create specials and coupons, create invoices, track sales via report,, add product images, cross sell related products, allow customers to give product reviews and personal accounts and more. Andrew can handle everything from a backend administration panel.

Along with his Disc Golf Shopping Cart Website he needed business cards and a nice twitter background to complete the branding package to restart his business with an online component. All work and designs were complete and delivered within 30 days.

Learn more about Andrew Rich
Visit Pure Disc Golf
Contact Andrew via his website

Topics: Business, Domain Development, Web Design | No Comments »

7 New Features in Google Analytics

By Brian | December 3, 2009

Sent to me this morning:

Hello Google Analytics users,

Google recently added powerful new features to Google Analytics account. With these seven new features you’ll be able to get quicker insights, create deeper customizations, do more advanced analysis and track more mobile marketing!

Read on to learn more and then sign in to your account to try these features.

Analytics Intelligence with Custom Alerts
Using an algorithmic driven Intelligence engine, Analytics Intelligence monitors data patterns over daily, weekly and monthly periods. Significant changes in data trends and insights you may not have noticed are surfaced directly in your account. You can also create your own Custom Alerts that monitor your selection of dimensions and metrics that can be sent by email or displayed in the Intelligence reports.

Expanded Goals and New Engagement Goals
You can now track even more conversions by creating up to 20 goals per profile. Measure user engagement and branding success on your site with Time on Site and Pages per Visit goals. Set up your first Engagement goal in minutes.

Expanded Mobile Reporting
Google Analytics has expanded support for mobile websites and tracking for iPhone and Android mobile applications tracking. Adding server side code to your PHP, JSP, PERL, or ASPX mobile websites enables you to track non-Java-Script enabled phones. For mobile application developers, access the SDK and technical implementation details here. You’ll also be able to see breakout data on mobile devices and carriers in the new Mobile reports in the Visitors section.

Unique Visitors Metric
Include the Unique Visitors metric in your Custom Report or Advanced Segments to see how many actual visitors (unique cookies) visit your website. You can select Unique Visitors as a metric against any dimensions in Google Analytics.

Advanced Analysis Features
Dive deeper into your data with Pivoting, Secondary Dimensions, and Advanced Table Filtering. These combined features enable you to perform in-depth, on the fly data analysis within your account.

Share Advanced Segments and Custom Report Templates
Share the URL link for an Advanced Segment or Custom Report with anyone who has an Analytics account. Sharing the link will automatically import the pre-formatted template into the person’s account. Also available now is the ability to share or hide your Advanced Segments and Custom Reports by profile.

Multiple Custom Variables
Custom variables provide the power and flexibility to customize Google Analytics to collect the unique site usage data most important to your business. Define and track visitors according to visitor attributes (member vs. non-member), session attributes (signed in or signed out), and by page-level attributes (viewed Sports section). Use custom variables to classify any number of interactions and behaviors on your site. Start learning more about them now.

Sign in to your account to try the new features.

Happy analyzing,
Google Analytics Team

Topics: Google, technology | No Comments »

10 Golden Rules Of Affiliate Marketing

By Brian | November 17, 2009

What is Affiliate Marketing:
Your Virtual Sales Force through embeded links with a tracking code.

4 types of Affiliates:
1)Search Engine Affiliates:
through SEO and or PPC
2)Traffic Affiliates:
high traffic on there sites
3)Email Affiliates:
Large email list. Send out an email on your behalf
4)Coupon Affiliates:
Promo Codes, Coupon Code

10 Golden Rules of Affililate marketing
1: Select a solution
a) sign-up with a network:
Means connecting an affiliate with a merchant through a 3rd party.
Great place to get started..you pay the network network pays the virtual staff
b)In house solution:
-No 3rd party
-Options to use – direct track or idevDirect
-No middle man, so you have to handle all questions, billing, tracking, etc.
2)Create an Affiliate Agreement:
-Legal document written in common english. Make it simple for them (affiliates) so they will sign up.
-Can Affiliates use your brand in marketing and other keywords. Yes or No? May end up competing in $$$ for clicks/ads
-No Spam Policy
3)Recruit Affiliates:
-Have a link on your website to your sign-up page or to the network your with.
-Use a network, they promote you in new/feature/seasonals
-check out abestweb
-Watch out for scams/scammers. Do manual approvals at first to see who is marketing for you.
4)Make great creatives
-Have a simple cut and paste link with all tracking already provided in the link
-Make it easy to find on the the networks. The networks offer EPC (earning per click) info.
-Make interactive creatives, using dynamic code that updates banners and links with current promos and deals
5)Be Accessible
-You have to be there for you vitrual sales force,
-Do it though; Email, blog, phone number, twitter, facebook, IM, in person, etc.
6) Full Time Program Managers
-In house or outsources
-all contact, recuiting, gathering creatives
-Don’t think this is an easy job that can be added to someone already in the office. This is a full time position that requires knowledge, skills, and should be a people person
7) Embrace the 90:10 Rule
-Meaning that 90% of your affiliate sales/revenue is brought in by 10% of your affiliate recruites
-These 10% should be offered special terms, special creatives, take the time to get to know them. You don’t want to lose them.
Communicate often
-Affiliates will often be part of 100’s of programs, keep your program on the top of there mind
-Reminders, go offline too, send a product, snail-mail, demo
9)Stay current
-Things change and new tec is always emerging. Keep up!
-Geekcast.fm for pod cast
abestweb. forum
blogs like ShoeMoney
Revnews
AffiliateTip.com
10)Pay Frequently, Fairly, and Most
Give your top performers (sale people) special deals, higher paid & faster etc.
They may spend $10,000 to make $12,000 so they need that capital back to keep the cycle going.
Don’t make them wait, cash flow is important

—–
Ideas to market:
Use custom landing pages
Make a video. You tube is #2 website in the world
Incenives like contest
News Letters
FaceBook Business Pages Get index by search engines