“Sure I know someone who does mortgages, what is her name again?… umm…” On the occasions when someone does ask for a recommendation for someone I hate getting stuck not remembering who I know that provides a certain service.I also certainly don’t want people forgetting my name when someone they know is looking for programming talent or technology consulting. That is where social networks come into play professionally not just for fun or a way to find out who your kids are hanging out with this week.

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Ask American Airlines right now about quality control and safety. They and their staff are working through a lot of difficulties in terms of the thousands of customers who are effected and their reputation. Many critics are suggesting that this could have been prevented with earlier testing and detection. In every business there are certain things that we rely on to just work. When they don’t it could result in huge setbacks in time, scheduling, and revenues. Having a strategic plan in place when something does go wrong is very important.

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Competitive market analysis (CMA) is the first stage in successful search engine marketing campaigns. Detailed search engine research provides a wealth of information about current industry trends and regional competition with regard to specific keywords. Once complete, a comprehensive CMA can be used to help generate more effective search engine marketing portfolios.
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Goal setting and funneling are two very important web-terms every business owner should be familiar with. Goal setting is the process of tracking and analyzing website visitors based upon a set of predetermined goals. Read the rest of this article »

Looking for a smart calendering solution, but not interested in the overhead of running your own Exchange or other application on your office server? I have used Google’s calendar application for a few years now and have been pleased overall. It is part of their suite of web applications that allow you to both track your own emails, documents, and events, but it becomes more powerful when you start to share these things with others. Now you can have a shared calendar for workplace events, meetings, and deadlines. Learn about Google Calendar and other small business applications at http://www.google.com/a/smallbiz/.

Driving a couple extra miles to the Ace Hardware store I began thinking about consumer and business purchasing decisions. Many businesses, especially in the retail space, are struggling with maintaining their customer base. Consumers are becoming more informed about pricing and competing services through the Internet and media. How does a business attract and maintain repeat customers?

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Feedback is an element essential to all design processes. From architects to artisans, effective design techniques employ various feedback systems. Graphic design and website development are no exception to this rule. Clients, designers and developers must maintain healthy lines of communication in order to maximize productivity and satisfaction. Read the rest of this article »

The creation of captivating imagery is a key component in effective marketing campaigns. The purpose of this imagery is in conveying or communicating specific messages to an intended audience. Sometimes this message is to buy something. Other times the message is meant to help shape opinions or educate people.

Today, telecommunication integration is at an all-time high. There exists an almost tangible cloud of marketing messages permeating human culture and society. Read the rest of this article »

Tell us what is on your mind. What is frustrating your business that you wish you knew more about? The first 5 businesses that submit a question at www.dvwr.org will get a $10 gift card to Starbucks. We are dedicated to making you aware of web marketing and technology techniques, products, and services that take the frustration out of growing your business. Let us know what your concerns are today and enjoy a latte more in 2008. Read the rest of this article »

Confused as to where you are going next year? If you are like me you probably plan tomorrow’s activities the night before or when you read your email in the morning. You may have a todo list for the week or a calendar of appointments and tasks. Do you have the same thing in place for your goals and aspirations? Take a moment and start planning for 2008 today. It will help you make sure your team and vendors are informed on how to make your 2008 successful. Read the rest of this article »