March A-Frame Special

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March A-Frame Special

Don’t Forget Other Online Video Websites

YouTube is the world’s second largest search engine behind Google. If you’ve checked your email inbox or Facebook wall lately, that’s probably no surprise to you. However, what people seem to forget about online video is this: it’s a great way not only to push your messaging, but also get indexed and improve your brand’s SEO. The next thing that people forget is that there’s more than YouTube at your disposal to do this.

If you’re in charge of your company’s social media or SEO efforts, you’re probably writing rich, keyword-filled descriptions and tags for your company’s video messaging. In this way, you’re not only pushing video messaging, you’re also helping move the needle on social and search, simultaneously.

To this end, it’s best to upload your content while it’s most topical and trending. Likewise, if there’s a surge of discussion online within your industry, try to construct content that is applicable towards that surge. It’s still important that your descriptions and topics are authentic and not misleading, as that’s a quick way to get deleted and, worse, “blacklisted.”

Once your video is uploaded to all of your video channels, be sure to market that video within the appropriate social technology or discussion thread to garner more traffic. You would not push automotive content to an investment forum; although you might push it to a racing site where the demographic is more attune to your messaging. This increases your chance of people taking your video further into their own social grids with mentions and direct embeds.

While not all video sharing websites are going to be right for your brand and messaging, knowing that there’s more than one option can and will empower you to reach a greater audience base.

Here is a rundown of the many other Video Sharing Websites that are out there waiting for your content:

http://www.youtube.com/
http://video.google.com/
http://www.bing.com/videos
http://www.dailymotion.com/
http://www.metacafe.com/
http://www.metacafe.com/
http://www.myspace.com/
http://www.livevideo.com/
http://video.yahoo.com/
http://www.photobucket.com/
http://www.blinkx.com/
http://www.viddler.com/
http://www.blogtv.com/
http://www.vimeo.com/
http://www.fotki.com/
http://www.blip.tv/
http://www.gawkk.com/
http://www.zoopy.com/
http://www.flickr.com/
http://www.revver.com/
http://picasa.google.com
http://www.searchforvideo.com/

Source: One in a series from Starmark.com called "Winning eTips Every Marketer Should Know"

Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa in San Diego

Don’t Forget Other Online Video Websites

3 Reasons Your Business Needs a Sidewalk Sign

Every business, no matter what kind it is needs a sidewalk sign. Not only are sidewalk signs cost  effective but they are also the best way for you to reach potential customers who are walking and  driving by your business every single day.   Here are 3 reasons why you should invest in a sidewalk sign for your business. 

1.    It lets people know you are there - Do you know how many people pass by your business  on any given day? And do you know how many of those people have no idea what kind of  business you have or what you offer? This is where an outdoor sign such as a sidewalk sign  comes in. An outdoor sign lets people know you are there. It will help you get the attention of  passer byers who might not otherwise notice you. 

2.    It's always working for you - A sign can be advertising for you all day everyday helping  you attract new customers and bring new business in. Put your deals on a sign outside of your  business and you are sure to get some walk in's that you otherwise would not have gotten. 

3.    "A business without a sign is a sign of no business." - That is a quote that an industry  professional said and boy is it true. Just by placing one sign in front of your business you can  increase your transactions by a considerable amount. Ignore the importance of an outdoor sign  and you could miss out on a lot of sales. 

Source: Articlesbase.com    

This month Signarama is offering special pricing on sidewalk signs. Give us a call for  details.

Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa in San Diego

3 Reasons Your Business Needs a Sidewalk Sign

How to Read Your Prospect Like a Book!

By John Boe 

Top salespeople and the most successful managers recognize the importance of nonverbal  communication in the selling process and have learned to "listen with their eyes". They  understand that one of the easiest and most effective ways to close sales is to be aware of their  prospect's "buy signals". 

Are you aware that your body language reveals your deepest feelings and hidden thoughts to  total strangers? It might surprise you to know that research indicates over 70% of our  communication is done nonverbally. In fact, studies show that nonverbal communication has a  much greater impact and reliability than the spoken word. Therefore, if your prospect's words are  incongruent with their body language gestures, you would be wise to rely on their body language  as a more accurate reflection of their true feelings. Body language is a mixture of movement,  posture, and tone of voice. The good news about this subject is that your subconscious mind  already understands the meaning of every gesture, posture, and voice inflection. The bad news is,  without the proper training you are unable to consciously apply this information. 

Gain the Competitive Edge
 Get started on the right foot. Research shows that we decide in the first few moments whether we  like someone or not. Yes, we also judge a book by its cover too. There is absolutely no substitute  for a positive first impression. Create a favorable first impression and build rapport quickly by  using open body language. In addition to smiling and making good eye contact, you should show  the palms of your hands, keep your arms unfolded, and your legs uncrossed. 

 Create harmony by "matching and mirroring" your prospect's body language gestures. Matching  and mirroring is unconscious mimicry. It is a way of subconsciously telling another that you like  them and agree with them. The next time you are at a social event, notice how many people are  subconsciously matching one another. Likewise, when people disagree, they subconsciously  mismatch their body language gestures. The psychological principle behind matching and  mirroring is that people want to do business with salespeople that they believe are similar to  them. 

 You can build trust and rapport by deliberately, but subtly, matching your prospect's body  language in the first ten minutes of the appointment. For example, if you notice that your  prospect is crossing their arms, subtly cross your arms to match them. After you believe you  have developed trust and rapport, verify it by seeing if your prospect will match you. Uncross  your arms and see if your prospect will match and mirror you as you move into a more open  posture. If you notice your prospect subconsciously matching your body language gestures,  congratulations, this indicates that you have developed trust and rapport. Conversely, if you  notice your prospect mismatching your body language gestures, you know trust and rapport has  not been established and you need to continue matching and mirroring them.    

 Body Language Basics 
Be mindful to evaluate the flow of "gesture clusters" rather than isolated gestures taken out of  context. Listed below are some important body language gestures that you need to become  familiar with. 

 Body Postures:
There are two basic categories of body postures; Open/Closed and Forward/Back. In an open and  receptive body posture, arms are unfolded, legs uncrossed, and palms are exposed. In a closed  body posture, arms are folded, legs are crossed and the entire body is usually turned away. 

•  Leaning back and closed = Lack of interest. 
•  Leaning back and open = Contemplation and cautious interest. 
•  Leaning forward and closed = Potential aggressive behavior. 
•  Leaning forward and open = Interest and agreement. If appropriate, this would be a good  time to ask for the order. 

 Head Gestures:
There are four basic head positions. 

•  Head neutral = Neutral and open attitude. 
•  Tilted back = Superior attitude.  
•  Tilted down = Negative and judgmental attitude. 
•  Tilted to one side = Interest.  

 Facial Gestures:
Facial gestures reveal deceit, doubt, deliberation, and critical judgment. 

•  Eye rub = Deceit, "see no evil."  
•  Eye roll = Dismissive gesture that indicates superiority. 
•  Looking over top of glasses = Scrutiny and a critical attitude.  
•  Nose rub = Dislike of the subject.  
•  Hand or fingers blocking mouth = Deceit, "speak no evil."  
•  Chin stroking = Making a decision.  
•  Thumb under chin with index finger pointing vertically along the cheek = Negative  attitude and critical judgment. 

 Are you missing your prospect's buy signals? As a professional salesperson you must  continuously monitor your prospect's body language and adjust your presentation accordingly.  By understanding your prospect's body language gestures you will minimize perceived sales  pressure and know when it's appropriate to close the sale! 

 John Boe presents a wide variety of motivational and sales-oriented keynotes and seminar  programs for sales meetings and conventions. John is a nationally recognized sales trainer and  business motivational speaker with an impeccable track record in the meeting industry. To have  John speak at your next event, visit www.johnboe.com or call 937-299-9001.

Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa in San Diego

How to Read Your Prospect Like a Book!

Be a “Bandit” to Drive Customer Traffic

If you have a business that relies on foot traffic for success, it’s imperative to find ways to get customers physically through the door. One great, inexpensive strategy for doing that is to use bandit signs, small signs mounted to a metal frame that’s pushed into ground.

Before you run out and start blanketing your area with these signs, be sure to check to see if your city has any relevant sign rules or restrictions. Bandit signs are designed to be a temporary way to enhance your visibility, but you don’t want to be noticed by local officials for the wrong reason.

Since bandit signs are small, it’s important to make good use of the space you do have. Be sure your address is prominent; the font should be large and easy to read and the color should be bold. We can help you with the content and look of your signs, and also provide pointers on where to place them for maximum visibility.

Be a “Bandit” to Drive Customer Traffic

Lessons Learned in E-mail Can Make Social Media More Effective

By John Rizzi


With so many people using Facebook and Twitter, it's easy to forget that social media as a marketing channel is still very much in its infancy. Social media marketers likely feel a lot like e-mail marketers did 10 years ago—unsure of what tactics would prove to be effective, unable to rely on traditional direct marketing metrics, and eager for someone to introduce standards and best practices the industry could begin to rely on. Which begs the question: are there lessons learned in e-mail marketing that we can apply to social media? Let's explore a few that apply.

1. Provide your customers with relevant content.
Regardless of the channel—e-mail, social media, print, television, radio – there will always be one indisputable truth: content is king. And e-mail marketers have been instrumental in training consumers to expect relevant content. That expectation isn't likely to change when your customer engages your brand in social networking. So how do you deliver?

Before creating your brand's Facebook page or sending the company's first tweet, understand what your strategy is going to be. What information are you going to provide? Where is the content going to come from? Can you leverage promotions and offers from other channels such as e-mail? Driving your customers to social networks without a plan for engaging them will most likely lead to disappointment, so make sure you have a plan for publishing valuable content regularly.

2. Create many opportunities to share.
Of course, the more valuable and relevant the content is, the more likely your customer is to share it, which is why e-mail marketers have always placed a great deal of importance on sharing tools such as forward-to-a-friend. It's easy today to add social media sharing links to e-mail campaigns, so make sure you are in synch with your fellow marketers. The more opportunities you provide for the customer to share your content, the more likely you are to create new subscribers and customers who want to talk about your brand.

3. Know who your best customers are and treat them special.
Social media may not have the sophisticated segmentation and targeting capabilities of e-mail, but it's safe to assume that any customer who joins your social network is a pretty darn good customer. For the most part, social media users take their networks very personally, which means they are selective about which brands they engage in their community.

Don't take this selection lightly. Instead, treat the customers in your social community as if they were your best customers or brand advocates, because that is most likely who they are. Conversely, you should be inviting the best customer segments of your e-mail list to engage your brand's social networks, where the ability to advocate on behalf of your brand increases exponentially. Push product reviews, special promotions, offers, videos and games to these customers and encourage them to share them in their social networks.

4. Be prepared to justify your investment.
Undoubtedly one of the key factors to e-mail being the most profitable marketing channel is the fact that it is also one of the most measurable. Of course, measuring the success of social e-mail is more difficult, but the principle rule remains the same: establish your key performance indicators up front and analyze them consistently over time, and across channels. It may be difficult to track social media activity all the way through to a sales transaction, but is that the role social media plays in your marketing strategy? It may be better to focus on how social media is influencing brand penetration, customer engagement, and market visibility which can be measured via user reviews, viral campaigns, and fan/follower activity.

5. Take chances and learn from your mistakes
As cost-effective as e-mail is, it has always lent itself to testing new approaches and experimenting with different offers and promotions, all the while analyzing results to understand what is working and why. The same can be said of social media. Many of your early social media campaigns will likely fall flat, but that's to be expected. The important thing is that you continue to test, measure, and improve.

The similarities between e-mail and social media are no coincidence. In fact, many consider e-mail to be a social media tool that simply pre-dates the term. The best lesson to take away from this discussion is how effective e-mail can be at helping to advance your social media strategy. Make sure that you are integrating your e-mail and social media efforts as a means to convert your best customers into brand advocates, and continue to nurture the individual customer as well as your customer community.

John Rizzi is president and CEO of e-Dialog

Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa in San Diego

Lessons Learned in E-mail Can Make Social Media More Effective

Vehicle Signage: A Powerful Marketing Tool

Using your vehicles to advertise your business or organizations makes sense. It gives  value for money with a high visibility in the community. Your vehicles become moving  billboards. And they work. You will get noticed. 

The whole point of advertising is to get the message out to the people who need your  products and services. Television, newspaper, direct mail and radio are the traditional  ways of increasing your brand awareness. But this is changing. More and more the  internet becomes a tool of choice and it is cost-effective with the ability to reach many  customers. And so is adding vehicle wraps, lettering or magnets to your vehicle.

Sometimes a full wrap is not needed to have impact and get attention! A partial  wrap, vinyl lettering or a combination of both, with the proper design can  accomplish the intention of bringing attention to your business.

• Apart from the obvious benefits, vehicle signage will enhance your business in many  ways:
• Vehicle graphics turn your vehicles into valuable assets. Wherever they go your  name goes with them - through the suburban and city streets or out on the  highway - people are everywhere.
• Vehicle signage is cost-effective. Though the upfront costs may be higher, think  of it as a long-term investment in your business. Then there are the tax benefits;  and, not to mention, the advertising benefits. 
• Any branding increases community awareness and your business will have an  increase in inquiries that you can turn into sales. 
• On-car signs last for a long time (so make sure it looks good) and are visible 365  days of the year with no ongoing costs if the vehicles you use belong to you. 
• Vehicle signage has a huge range of options from small magnetic signs to full  body vehicle wraps.

Sign-A-Rama - Kearny Mesa in San Diego

Vehicle Signage: A Powerful Marketing Tool