Facebook recently rolled out a program that pays Facebook members 10 cents to watch certain ads. The online social community will be paying one Facebook credit per view which can be used as ‘credits’ for their new Deals program. Deals is Facebook’s response to Groupon and is currently being rolled out in select cities. I think it’s going to give Groupon a serious run for it’s money, the built in community that Facebook has will be monumental in making this work. The majority of the payable ads will be shown in a game context and Facebook hopes that by paying folks to view, that they can improve their overall click through rate (which has been declining steadily over the last two years.)

Get Paid To Watch Ads

Here are a few of my observations:

For The Consumer
I think it’s great that Facebook is paying more attention to the needs of the consumer and realizing that permission based marketing is beating up in your face types of advertisements, such as banner ads, etc.. A few concerns here though: If you are paying people to watch ads, don’t they start to become dependent on getting paid to view those ads? What happens if the program doesn’t work out, or advertisers aren’t happy with the metrics and Facebook pulls the plug? Now you have a bunch of folks who have become dependent on getting a reward for watching or participating in the ad experience. If that’s taken away, there isn’t much else you can do to improve click through rates PERIOD. A bit of a risk if you ask me.

For The Advertiser
As an advertiser, there is a tremendous opportunity here, MAYBE.  People paying to watch your ad can mean two things, they are greedy and are just simply out to acquire credits and could care less what you are pitching, or two, they are genuinely interested in your product and will give you an opportunity to compel them to buy something.  I can’t stress how important it’s going to be for advertisers to come up with brilliant ads so that users / views are compelled to encourage their friends to view as well.

For Facebook
It seems as though Facebook is trying to get people used to using their credits.  In the past, credits were used primarily for non tangible goods, online games, etc.. Now, with Deals, credits can purchase real tangible goods.  This was part of their master plan years ago, and if they can pull it off, they could rule a gigantic segment online.  If consumers start getting used to using those credits (which they can easily acquire by watching ads now….) Facebook’s growth can rely much more on the Deals program and less on advertising.

As a marketer, I think this is going to be an amazing experiment to watch, the psychological implications for consumers will be fascinating, the additional creative pressure that these ads will put on advertisers and for Facebook, how well can the worlds most trafficked web site start making some coin off of their virtual currency and Deals program. Stay tuned!

– Follow Up — Was picked up by Fox News For This Post:–

Business gets done because of people.  Relationships are formed and decisions get made because of people.  People trust or don’t trust other people and will do business with only the people that they trust.

The days of B to B or Business to business is evolving daily to P to P or people to people.  Internet marketing and social media is being used to develop relationships amongst people, relationships that do lead to sales, relationships and networking that ultimately results in personal business relationships.

Your sales force needs to be connecting with people and social media can be an avenue for that personal relationship to take root.  Using LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, blogging, etc. can be a tremendous tool to reach out to people and start a meaningful dialogue.

One of my favorite social media videos… Have second thoughts about using Social Media to promote your business? You won’t after watching this!

Watch this quick video…..

Need an expert team eager to help you grow your online presence? Call me: In Orlando: 407-830-4550 or Nationwide: 866-998-6886.

When it comes to Internet marketing, many companies are still stuck in the ME phase, the web site is all about them, the social media campaign is all about them, their blog is about how wonderful they are, their youtube channel is all about them and their new factory, etc.  The Internet was actually created (Thanks Al Gore) to be a ‘place’ to exchange information.  People go online to seek information, to connect, to share, to shop, to learn. Is your company contributing to those who wish to learn? Are you adding value to the Internet? Are you helping to build the online community?

Here are a few pointers to help your company start sharing and contributing to a better Internet / Online world:

1.) Participate In Forums.
Find industry forums and share your insight into issues, challenges, etc. Offer solutions, offer white papers.

2.) Be Social.
Engage your prospects and clients via the various social media applications. Make it a mission to serve others through your online existence.  Dell Computer company has led the way with it’s social presence on Twitter. They began helping frustrated dell users by pointing them to the right place to get help.

3.) Blogging.
Blog about industry standards or how your clients can get the most out of your products / and / or services. No one really cares that much about the company picnic and what your IT department did to that poor watermelon.

4.) Your Web Site.
Your web site should be a useful education center that happens to sell your products or services.  Make it easy for folks to navigate, but more importantly, make it easy for people to get the information they are seeking rapidly.  An educated prospect or client makes for a much better client. A good example of educating clients can be seen on the AllState Insurance home page.  They are offering tips on how to shop for insurance, etc.  Useful information for the consumer before they buy.

5.) Videos.
Yes, it is true that a well done video can be a great Internet marketing tool, HOWEVER, a poorly done video can hurt you more than it can ever help you.  Try to avoid giving tours of your building (no one really cares.) Create a video that educates or stirs an emotion in your prospects or clients. For a great example of video marketing, be sure to check out the Blendtec YouTube channel

The key with any online presence is to make a contribution to the Internet society.  So, what will your company do to help build the Internet?

On Target Web Solutions is growing! We are seeking a driven, responsible, ethical, creative, amazing, dynamic, passionate, outgoing personality to join our team of Internet marketers.

Social Media / Internet Marketing Assistant
Posted 7-1-10

On Target Web Solutions, Inc., an Orlando based web design, seo and Internet marketing firm is seeking an entry level social media and Internet marketing assistant to join our growing team of marketing professionals.

Responsibilities:
- Create comprehensive social media strategies for our diverse client base and execute.
- Experiment with new and alternative ways to leverage social media activities.
- Monitor trends in social media tools, trends and applications and apply to our clients.
- Measure the impact of social media campaigns and report to Internet Marketing Manager.
- Contact clients VIA phone and discuss needs / plans / special events
- Meet weekly with team and brainstorm creative campaigns
- Create relevant content for our clients daily

Qualified candidates will possess the following skills / traits.
- Excellent STRONG writing skills and an eagerness to use them.
- Ability to perform within a team environment.
- Resourcefulness and strong research skills.
- Creative
- Ability to synthesize large amounts of data into actionable information
- Sense of humour.
- Flexibility
- Eagerness to grow and learn
- Eagerness to help our clients grow and succeed online.
- Self Starter

Computer Skills:
- PC / Mac Skills
- Experience with blogging software (WordPress)
- Experience with Twitter, Hootsuite, Facebook, LinkedIn.
- General knowledge of SEO and Web Sites
- General knowledge of Adobe Web Suite
- Proficient in MS Word, Excel, Outlook

Education:
AA Degree or BA.
Please send a resume with a cover letter to jobs @ ontargetwebsolutions.com.

Job Description In PDF

I have some friends in the mortgage business who have just been hired by a new up and coming company in the Orlando market.  One of my friends was telling me how excited he was about the new social media opportunities and how he could harness his FACEBOOK account to bring in all sorts of mortgage originations.  He spent some time listening to the ‘corporate social media guy’ who has instructed each loan officer to create their own mortgage consultant for life facebook page and then BAM, SHAMWOW, KABOW, instant business. Instant mortgage originations, instant customers for life….. Set it and forget it.
Fact: This WILL NOT WORK. Ever.

Here’s what could work:

* Create a web site that actually educated clients about mortgage loans and the new rules and regulations.
* Create a blog with a personality and engage prospects. Answer their questions, address their concerns, interpret the new government restrictions and / or regulations.
* Create a twitter page and facebook page that actually educated people about mortgages, NOT just to spout out interest rates.
* Create an online community of financial industry experts that could advise every day consumers on the best loan products, etc.  and teach them how NOT to get taken advantage of.

People are gun shy now. They should be.  They will use every available resource online to NOT get screwed over and to protect themselves and they SHOULD. The way mortgage brokers can win people over these days is to BE THAT RESOURCE. It takes work, skill and time, but it beats knocking on realtor doors, sending cheesy fliers out, hanging out at Chamber events and setting up tents at local community events.

“Selling to people who actually want to hear from you is more effective than interrupting strangers who don’t,” – Seth Godin.

I meet so many prospects and clients who are so very anxious to push their marketing on complete strangers.  It’s a method of marketing that has been engrained in us I guess, the mentality that the more people we push our message in front of, the higher the probability that someone, at some point, some day may actually buy something from us.

The new marketing works like this. I’m interested in what you have to say, I give you permission to talk to me by joining your blog, or by calling you, or by following you on Twitter. I give you permission because I’m interested in your thoughts, your mentality, your products and your beliefs. The more you speak to me and engage me, the higher the likelihood of me becoming one of your clients or prospects. The more you give to me and educate me about your product, the more I buy into it.

I think your web site should allow people to join up, or opt in, I think you should be blogging and contributing to the Internet community, I think your social media should be more than a highlight reel of the tuna sandwich you enjoyed at lunch today.  Start asking for permission and start selling.

To learn more about the NEW marketing, call me: in Orlando : 407-830-4550 or toll free: 866-998-6886. And hey, why not subscribe to my RSS feed or follow me on Twitter?

I was going through my 23,321 emails this morning and noting all of my new Twitter followers.  I clicked on one out of sheer curiosity simply because he had the term SEO (search engine optimization) in his ‘screen name’. The guy had over 3,000 twitter followers and has only had the twitter account for less than a month.  He has tweeted a grand total of 11 times.  Out of even deeper curiosity, I clicked his followers list to see who was following him: Nearly every one of his twitter followers was a multi level marketer, a realtor, or a spammer of some other sort. So, congrats to him for building such a following, he now has 3,000+ spammers following his every move with permission granted to leave spam all over his Twitter profile. Needless to say, I won’t be following him back.

When it comes to social media and branding your company online, pay attention to who you are following: follow leaders in your industry, follow pioneers and inventors, follow your successful clients and prospects, follow the people who matter. The more targeted people you follow and engage, the more targeted people you will get to follow you back enabling you to converse with them and build a mutually beneficial online and possibly offline relationship.

“As our society gets more complex and our people get more complacent, the role of the jester is more vital than ever before. Please stop sitting around. We need you to make a ruckus.”
- Seth Godin

I’m listening to Seth Godin’s latest book Linchpin which kind of carves out a tremendous opportunity for anyone who is employed to stand out and be counted and viable.   Seth is suggesting that we all as workers, owners, CEO’s, etc.  need to stand out and be the purple cow in order to thrive. He refers to indispensable people as ‘linchpins’. “The linchpin insists on making a difference, on leading, on connecting with others and doing something I call art. The linchpin is the indispensable one, the one the company can’t live without.”

I got to thinking, with so many web sites online, with so many twitter accounts and facebook accounts and blogs, your Internet Marketing presence these days needs to be ‘linchpin-esque.’ In order for it to be effective at all, it needs to “insist on making a difference, on leading, on connecting with others and doing art.” Your web site and online presence in social media doesn’t need to be obnoxious, but it does need to start making a ruckus. It needs to speak, it needs to engage, it needs to challenge and discuss, it needs to grow and thrive, it needs to give and BE art in order to raise any-one’s eyebrows.

What can you do today to change your web site and engage an audience? Do you blog? Do you ‘Tweet’? Do you educate clients on the best uses for your application? Do you offer them anything free? Do you inspire them?

Need some inspiration? Give me a call in Orlando at 407-830-4550 or nationwide: 866-998-6886 to discuss your ‘ruckus.’

Visit Seth Godin’s Web Site to learn more about his book Linchpin.

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As the CEO of On Target Web Solutions, I always have questions, problems, thoughts in my head about how I can further my business.  Oftentimes my questions simply begin with “What if…”

“ What if I had just one more employee?”

“ What if I had closed that sale last month?”

“ What if I had just switched to decaf?”

“ What if I had more money in my marketing budget?”

As a business owner there is always so much looming in my brain about the hows, the whats & the whens. With all of the noise that surrounds running a business, it’s so easy to forget who the most important person in our business is: The Customer.

I meet with a lot of fine business owners who tend to struggle with one critical element with their Internet marketing.  They don’t know their online customers. They don’t know what their customers want. They don’t take the time to put themselves in the shoes of their customers.  I know that in my particular business,  it’s all about providing our customers with results.  Can their web site be found using the keywords that their CUSTOMERS type into a search engine? Does their web site lead the CUSTOMERS to take an action or educate them quickly? Is their social media campaign speaking the right message to the right CUSTOMERS? If we (as a company) don’t ‘live vicariously’ through our customers we clearly won’t be able to achieve results for them.

Take a quick look at your online presence, whether it’s your web site, your facebook page or your blog and ask yourself, is this all about my customers or all about me and my company? How would a customer perceive that video tour of your factory? Would that customer truly be interested in the ‘letter from the CEO’ on your home page? What do they truly want and expect out of your company?

Before you start your next Internet marketing campaign, web design or social media campaign, contact On Target Web Solutions to discuss how we can help you help your customers.

It’s Time To Ask Yourself… What if I called On Target Web Solutions? Call 407.830.4550 and find out.

For more “What if” tips, follow @ontarget on Twitter or become our FAN on Facebook.

My favorite viral video series is back at it again. Blendtec CEO Tom Dickson has found a way for the IPad to fit into the Blendtec Blender:

Blendtec’s video series has boosted their Brand recognition immensely and upped their blender sales FIVE TIMES as a result.  How can your company / brand grow online?
Give me a call today and let’s talk about it. Call 866-998-6886 or in Orlando: 407-830-4550.

I was at the gym last night on the treadmill watching the local news when the weather segment came on.  The weatherman dove into his intriguing and thought provoking forecast telling all of Orlando that the temps would be hovering around 82 degrees for the next couple of days: no rain, no sleet, no hurricanes, no tornadoes in the forecast, just sun for the next few days.

How long would it take you to relay that message? About 25 seconds maybe? Not this weather guy. I’m not exaggerating when I say that this forecast took so long with so many words that after 4 minutes, I finally changed the channel.

When it comes to communication these days the challenge is to get your message out quickly and to be memorable.  This especially holds true for the Internet.  While online, your prospects have the attention span of a two year old. Seconds count. Take a quick glance at your web site, your tweets, your facebook updates, your blogs: Do they deliver your marketing message quickly?  If you are over delivering words, messaging, sending mixed signals, your audience or potential prospect is gone and on to the next.

Call me today to discuss your online marketing message: In Orlando: 407-830-4550 or toll free: 866-998-6886. Or visit my web site for more information about Internet marketing and web design.

I stumbled upon this great article yesterday by Jeremiah Owyang (http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/).

Basically, when it comes to online marketing, you need to realize that your company should be marketing to the ‘digital natives.’ Digital natives are the generation that have been raised alongside the Internet.  Digital natives can be defined as those kids who were born after 1980 and have been around computers, gaming, smart phones etc. for a great deal of their life. By having this exposure from an early age, these ‘kids’ know their way around the block, they have been taught to interact and actually network / speak to each other virtually and carry on relationships digitally.

There is a tremendous opportunity for companies to connect with digital natives as they are truly the ones online engaging and interacting with others naturally.  They will be the ones to spread the word about your products / services / lack of customer service / viral videos etc.  They will also be the ones who can sniff right through online BS and fake misleading intentions often seen in social media campaigns etc.

If you aren’t currently employing any digital natives in your marketing department, it’s worth the consideration.  If you don’t consider the digital natives to be a target market today you may be missing the boat.  They may not be in the market for your particular product or service RIGHT NOW, but they will be down the road.

Found this great QUICK video from Seth Godin this morning and it really hit home.  When it comes to social media networking or even off-line networking, simply handing out business cards and collecting followers on Twitter, Facebook etc. is pointless if you aren’t contributing….

It is truly amazing how far along communication technology has come in terms of spreading news and / or information to a large audience in a rapid manner. Social media tools such as Twitter have actually become a source of NEWS for Internet users. I remember vividly that I heard about Michael Jackson’s death on Twitter & Facebook, not by listening to the news, or tuning into my local TV affiliate or picking up the newspaper.

On top of being a great news distribution tool, Twitter is also a marketer’s dream: marketers can test market products, gauge interest, poll specific people who have mentioned VERY specific things in their musings and have PERMISSION to speak to them at will. A great example of social media marketing and building a buzz is the Apple IPad.  Apple, as usual, has built an amazing buzz around it’s product and gotten the entire Twitter universe to talk about it. As a result, when it becomes officially available on April 3rd, there WILL be lines of people camped out in front of the trendy Apple stores dying to get their hands on one.

One of the main questions people ask me is just HOW Twitter can help their business, and specifically, THEIR type of business.  My answer is always this: Branding. By gaining a following of targeted individuals and building a Tribe, you become their leader, you become the voice they listen to, the expert, the authority, the big cheese.  You can rapidly deploy information using 140 characters or less, you can rapidly build a buzz about a new product launch, you can quickly address customer service issues and be the transparent hero of a company that we are all seeking.

So, is it time that your business puts the telegram and telegraph away? Communication truly does move at the speed of light now, so who is spreading the good word about your company to the right audience at the right time?

For a strong social media strategy and presence, give me a call: 407-830-4550.

There has been a lot of talk lately about social media and the potential negative impact it can have on business.  The blogosphere has been speculating on how much time social media costs companies, worrying about privacy issues, secret secret company data being disseminated all over the net and IT concerns about hacks etc., through many social media online venues. In my last blog I addressed some social media pros for your business, in this blog, Im going to play negative nelly and discuss some cons for businesses and social media:

Employees Spend more time on Facebook tending to their mafia wars and sorority sisters then they do actual work.
This is becoming a huge concern, HOWEVER, I witnessed a lady sitting at a desk today for about 1.5 hours playing an intense game of solitaire on her PC while she didn’t think anyone was watching….. Social media can indeed be a time waster and burn through company money quicker than crap through a goose, BUT, as I mentioned in my earlier post, harnessing the power of your employees online activities by branding your company and being social with your actual customers could save you thousands in other areas.

IT Concerns with Hackers & Social Media Sites.
I spoke at a tradeshow last week and a gentleman stood up and asked how to combat hackers via Facebook etc., because his IT guy read an article in GeekWeekly stating that if you click links from people you don’t know in Facebook, they can gain control of your whole network and ruin your day…. Newsflash here: Clicking any link from a stranger is a risk, whether it’s on Google, Twitter, Sesame Street, etc. Granted, social media outlets have some tightening up to do, but, as long as there are hackers, there will be exploits everywhere. Best protection here: Use Common Sense. Don’t be a clicker.

My Employees Might Say Mean Stuff About Me.
Yup, that’s inevitable. There truly is ONE in every crowd, and in many instances, plenty more than one.  As long as your employees have Internet access, whether it’s via their work issued PC or their Smart Phone that can launch the Space Shuttle, they will be online saying stuff. How you deal with that ‘stuff’ is mission critical. How you deal with your employees and lay down the lay with a social media policy is mission critical. But, here’s the harsh cold reality: If you fire them for saying mean things about you online, they will immediately leave your office and continue to say mean things about you. If people have an axe to grind they will.

Everything is a risk. Running a web site is a risk, eating that Chinese food from that joint that’s close to the humane society is a risk, marketing your company to the masses is truly a risk, taking risks that are calculated and planned is just smart business.

Not sure if social media is right for your business? Give me a call to discuss. I also offer in business seminars and presentations on using social media effectively and with purpose.  Call me at 407-830-4550 in Orlando or toll free: 866-998-6886. Be sure to visit my web site to learn more about social media: http://www.ontargetwebsolutions.com

I’ve been fortunate to speak at several local tradeshows / seminars about Social Media lately, and one of the most common questions I get from businesses during my presentation is “How do I keep my company safe with Social Media?”

This is a VERY legitimate question as companies are starting to block access internally to social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter due to hacking attempts and mostly, due to employee inefficiency.  A gentleman made a crack during my last presentation that he FIRES each employee he catches online. So, employers, business owners are seeing social media as a colossal waste of time as opposed to an opportunity to grow their corporate brand online: here’s a few opportunities I see that could be a positive to implementing a social media campaign for your business and could quite possibly save you money and improve efficiency.

1.) Expand customer service.
What if each one of your customer service team knew how to use Twitter to monitor issues / questions regarding your brand / products or services? Addressing customer service needs promptly online as opposed to answering phone calls all day could dramatically improve overall efficiency and leave the client / prospect feeling like they were special. You are being proactive by GOING directly to the problem and addressing it rapidly.

2.) Expand Your Marketing Message.
What if each one of your marketing team members could rapidly deploy NEW product announcements to a very targeted audience, OR test market a particular product rapidly to a very targeted demographic? Twitter and / or Facebook can be good tools to rapidly get a pulse on potential buyers. Twitter and Facebook can be a great tool to build a buzz about an upcoming product launch or tradeshow, etc.

3.) Spread Your Corporate News Rapidly.
What if your public relations team could get your press releases disseminated rapidly and into the hands that matter using Twitter, online press release services, facebook, etc.  Believe it or not, people get their news quicker from Twitter then they do on CNN.com.

I think business owners need to realize that if your employees aren’t on social media at work, they are on social media at home.  They will talk about work, they will talk about the company: why not harness that power and grow an army out of your staff to grow your online presence and improve your presence online?

There are of course many dangers lurking with social media and corporate usage, I’ll address those in my next post.

I’m a huge fan of Blendtec and their cool viral you tube videos: watch Tom Dickson from Blendtec blend his ‘facebook’ page and then go and follow them on Facebook for more zany blending:

What a great way to build a facebook fan page….

I was invited again to represent On Target Web Solutions and discuss Social Media, this time I was asked to discuss Social Media and privacy.

How do I get invited to speak on National TV? Google organic rankings.  The Daily buzz found me in a Google search and has asked me back several times to discuss Internet marketing and social media.   How can you gain national exposure and be the expert in your field? Give me a call today: toll free: 866-998-6886 or in Orlando: 407-830-4550: Be sure to visit my web site and learn more about all of our web design and Internet Marketing services: http://www.ontargetwebsolutions.com.

The latest corporate fad as many companies are coming under scrutiny is to scramble and get a feel good video produced and distributed to try and retain market share and build confidence. This alleged ‘transparency’ or confession is becoming more and more common in a cut throat economy. I’ve listed a few examples below:

First it was GMC with their wide open ooops we goofed video and needed our tax payer dollars to bail them out:

Next, Tiger Woods starts losing endorsements and the PGA starts losing serious coin prompting him to come out and make a ‘public’ on his terms confession:

Last, Toyota.  Toyota has come under fire for several recalls on several cars.  Toyota’s reputation for building high quality products has been tarnished, so they of course resorted to the open video to consumers: I actually saw a new one tonight with an older couple telling the world how very impressed they were with Toyota coming out and apologizing and stating that their next car will be a Toyota.

While I realize the dire need for a prompt PR response, which of these above examples actually seemed the most sincere to me? The Tiger Woods confession.  GMC didn’t have a choice but to call a spade a spade, Toyota followed suit and is now using the transparent card to attempt and instill confidence back in its consumers and vehicle owners (myself included). Here’s my issue: it feels forced. I realize I’m jaded, but is being transparent just to be transparent wrong or completely fake? When it seems forced, I personally feels it damages the brand more than helps it. I often wonder as I watch the Toyota commercials  now, why didn’t you just do the right thing from the very beginning?  Sure, we ALL make mistakes, myself included, but the new fad of scrambling for a feel good ooops we goofed video seems so orchestrated now. What would convince me that there is a new GMC or a new Toyota? Superior products, quality driven and a true commitment to doing what’s right EVERYDAY, not just when they get caught with their pants down.