Technology is changing at a rapid pace. You know that. So, don’t get stuck in a catch-up game. Stay ahead of the pack and use the new technology to your advantage. Take, for example, the use of smartphones. Right now, consumers are using their phones more and more.

According to a number of sources, (and just, you know, understanding the world around you) people are using their phones to access the web more and more.

Take a look at these stats:

… Continue Reading

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network, with over 120 million members and growing rapidly. LinkedIn connects you to your trusted contacts and helps you exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broader network of professionals.

In other words, LinkedIn is Facebook for business people.

Like its cool cousin Facebook, LinkedIn is growing at an astounding rate:

• LinkedIn counts executives from all 2011 Fortune 500 companies as members
• Its corporate hiring solutions are used by 75 of the Fortune 100 companies.
• More than 2 million companies have LinkedIn Company … Continue Reading
  
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Front and Back of 2nd Direct Mail Piece and E-mail

As an approved vendor for Motorola co-op advertising, Stream Companies works with radio dealers nationwide. Commenco Inc., an elite authorized Motorola service facility in the Kansas City metropolitan area, needed to promote its upcoming expo in a fresh and exciting way. Having worked with Stream Companies many times before, Commenco knew that Stream could jazz things up like no other advertising agency around. Stream used direct mail, print, an online landing page, e-mail and online video to … Continue Reading

Contrary to many people’s beliefs, there is more substance to the world of online videos than the following:

Online videos also have the ability to educate and inform consumers, and more importantly, they can motivate these consumers to work with your company.

People spend a considerable amount of time watching videos, probably more than they’d like to admit. According to Arbitron and Edison Research, the weekly audience for online video has tripled in the past five years. Research also showed that the typical respondent spends 3 hours … Continue Reading

Right now, we live in an age where things are constantly changing. We can’t go more than a year until our computers or cell phones are passé, and their technology is nearly obsolete. In the world of advertising design, things are just as much on the move.

So, let’s get down to the brass tacks – How do we stay on top of these constant changes, or better yet, ahead of them?

Two words: adapt and innovate.

“Old media” (TV, radio, print, direct mail, tradeshows, etc.), unlike our outdated iPhone 4s, are actually still relevant, very much so. The trick is to … Continue Reading

A ComScore study has shown that the average American spends 32 hours per month on the Internet. So, what does this mean for your advertising dollars? Many people would jump to the conclusion that because people spend more time online, their online ads will automatically bring them more business.

But you’re smarter than that.

In order to get any results, your business must invest in targeted, relevant ads which are on sites that your consumers visit frequently.

Say your business is a car dealership. You’d like to reach customers that live within … Continue Reading

Facebook marketers were thrown into a tizzy last week by the suggestion that using 3rd party apps can be detrimental to your post’s EdgeRank.  If that sounds indecipherable, you are not alone.  There’s a lot to know when it comes to making your brand voice heard on Facebook.

Let’s look into the brouhaha more deeply.

Last week, EdgeRank Checker released a study outlining the influence of 3rd party application programming interfaces (“APIs”, more commonly referred to as “3rd Party Apps”) on Facebook engagement.  These apps are commonly used to schedule … Continue Reading

Can YouTube clips and mobile websites replace test drives and in-person experiences?

Increasingly car shoppers are using online resources to find their ideal vehicle.  In a recent interview, Kimberly Stonehouse, automotive industry development manager at Google, shared her perspective on some of the factors currently influencing auto shoppers’ behavior.

The internet is an essential source of information for car shoppers. While test driving vehicles remains an important part of the process, a car dealer’s website is ever more crucial in the buying process.  Web searches also … Continue Reading

Thomas Baekdal image (2009)

Back in 2009 spending on traditional media (like TV and radio) dropped by almost one-fifth.  Since then, however, spending has been moving up, but is expected to stay around current levels in the near future.

A recent study predicts that traditional media spends will continue to hover around the $130 billion level between now and 2015—far below the $166 billion posted in 2007. It is worth noting that newspapers are not expected to benefit from the bounceback.  Significantly, advertisers … Continue Reading

Bing announces “Liked Results” shortly after Google’s increased social emphasis

Microsoft’s Bing has followed Google’s example by changing their search results to emphasize social results.

Bing, who recently partnered with Facebook, has created “Liked Results” which will show links that friends have shared or liked on Facebook.

Both Bing and Google are placing more emphasis on social for similar reasons. Social aspects of the internet enhance the user experience and users will want this social data available … Continue Reading