Digital Advertising in focus

Often I have to pause and reflect that it's been far too long since I've written on a subject.   Once again that's the case for this blog and audience.   Many of you have probably matriculated to other forms of national and global digital marketing news, and frankly hyperlocal digital marketing interaction is hard to find.

While reading up on the news of the morning the articles about Google's earnings report jumped up as a viable excuse to write a bit about digital advertising in general.   In the fourth quarter of 2012, google had profits of $2.89 Billion.   WOW!  Just take a brief pause and consider that a business that did not exist 25 years ago, and in the specific case of Google a business model that was only created 15 years ago, is pulling in profits in excess of $10 Billion per year. 

The lion's share of these profits are from you and I clicking on the ads on the side of google search and related pages.   Advertising gross revenue alone for Google in the fourth quarter was $12.9 Billion.   If I guess that their average click price is 50 cents, that's 25 Billion clicks in the fourth quarter of 2012.   In the early years of digital marketing there was a sense of fad and newness that may have driven sales up, but there's no way that companies paid over $12 Billion to google in advertising dollars unless these ads, a lot of them, are working and driving traffic and leads and conversions to businesses.

Are you advertising on google or facebook or linkedin?   There's an entire cottage industry of experts prepared to walk you through PPC and SEM and SEO and other cool new acronyms.   In general though you make a decision how much you want to spend each month, then that budget is married to the keywords that you think people might be searching, and you are given ads.   If you are willing to spend more, you will get the top spots and more ads.  If you run out of money in your budget, you will not appear in searches.  It's all very democratic and frankly simple. 

Many of you know that Julie and I are once again pulling together our own plans and capital to build new homes again.   I will try and remember to use this space to keep you abreast of the process and how successful we are at using these tools.   I do know that digital advertising works, for lots of companies, and that hyperlocal marketing is here to stay and grow.   Until next time ...

Steve 

Mobile Applications Today

My Mobile Fans says "3 Reasons Why you need a Mobile App for your Business"

Mobile Applications for small business

Marketing for local services

Valparaiso Indiana Plumbing

There's no secret at this point, we enjoy helping small local service providers use digital marketing tool to gain customers and name recognition.   One such terrific client is Valparaiso Indiana based Plumbing company, Regional Plumbing and Heating.  

Google won't enjoy a link packed post, although it's just a little frustrating that what the local customer wants, namely contextual search, is forbidden by the search engine gods.

Mike Krooswyk and Mike Barnett have weathered the housing recession, and I for one respect their tenacity and ability to change with the times.   Well done and thumbs up to a terrific and hard working group of guys.

Services offered by Regional:

• Emergency Plumbing and Leaks
• Septic Maintenance
• Heating and Cooling service, maintenance contracts
• Commercial construction 

 If you are in Lake, LaPorte or Porter County and need a friendly, clean, service technician ... you'll want to call Mike and Mike at Regional.  219-465-0822

Their brand new website is coming soon!

Small businesses seeking social and mobile

It's been a while since I've had the chance to write to my favorite business owners, having spent some time in a larger web development operation.   There's sure no problem with large-scale web development and long range custom programming, these problems can be terrific for larger companies seeking efficiency.   But my first love, going all the way back to the days of home building and real estate is the legitimate small business and finding ways to use low cost marketing to drive tremendous growth. (great read on How Mobile Applications have changed the restaurant scene)

Do you want growth, without the massive overhead of the large company of web developers and social media experts?  Do you want access to hundreds and thousands of possible new customers without having to spam them or broadcast traditional expensive advertising?  If so, let's work together as I seek to find you some tools that are low cost, high impact, and transparent.   Top Ten, well maybe but if I find Eleven I'll post them all since a top ten is really just another fad and the last thing we need is another cliched fad.

• Mobile Apps (aka Mobile Applications) - perhaps the hottest thing going right now, Iphone and Android apps specifically are becoming a necessity even for the smallest of businesses.  Do you have one yet?  Why not?  Perhaps because the rumors on the street are that they cost thousands of dollars and require extremely complicated approvals and development abilities.   Not true, I am personally working with My Mobile Fans based right here in Indianapolis Indiana featuring small business mobile app development for as little as $299.00.    (Ask about mobile apps for bands, mobile apps for restaurants, and mobile apps for small business)
• Facebook - Do you have a business page on facebook for your company?  This one is even easier since it's totally 100% free.   Our social media package:  Propel may be just the thing if you're looking to have someone post, interact, and grow your audience daily.  If not, you can do this yourself.  Why haven't you yet? 
• Twitter - Again totally free, totally easy to run on your own - and yes it can be hired out to someone like our firm.   But again the key point is not to just publish and push information, interact, relate, grow your following, take part in conversations and important threads.  
• Google+ -  The newest free way to interact with some terrific tools.   You'll need to set up a few pages, again free, and make sure to not only post but attract a following.   Send an email if you want our newest whitepaper on how to use google+ most effectively.  (steve (at) greenptdev (dot) com)
• Digital Press Releases -  coming soon
• Business Blog - coming soon
• Video Marketing - coming soon with interview of video blogger

 Email today and let's get one of these, or all of them, rolling so you don't miss the least expensive way in decades to market and grow your client base.

Steve Dalton - Green Pointe Advisors

For Strategic Planning, EGov consulting, and digital marketing contact Green Pointe Advisors

2011 is about influence

Or so says online enthusiast and evangelist Chris Brogan.

Improve your Influence, says Brogan, but do so by giving and helping. Those who try to increase their influence merely at the expense of others, or to bolster their own numbers, tend to fall off quickly. Brogan says you influence more by helping even more.

Duplicitous content and other myths

No, it won't hurt if you post the same thing on two blogs:

Words words and more rain on a blue rug

For those that are confused, here's the start of today's Speedblogging exercise ... I think it will end up 29 posts in less than an hour.

I do it all the time, I have different readers in different places. This site features social media and technology ideas ... the first site I linked is all about international affairs. Duh@!

Oh and if you're here for the speedblogging (watch out for the weird animals) then keep moving along to Bible Study Online from Daltons