2010 SEM Showdown

With ReachLocal filling IPO and Yodle being listed as #35 of the 2010 Inc 500 list you can without a doubt know that the all new 2010 SEM Showdown is going to be a hard hitting competition to name the 2010 “Best in Value” for local online advertising.

This year we’ve decided to add a few new names to the review list:

• Yodle
• ReachLocal
• WebVisible
• Blitz Local
• YP.com (formally YellowPages.com / AT&T Interactive)
• Dex One
• Idearc (SuperPages.com)

This is your official sneak peak on what you can expect with the all new 2010 SEM Showdown – Best in Value by the one and only Search Engine Marketing Showdown.

YellowPages.com Review – Sean Hakes

Read the original post: YellowPages.com Review – The Yellow Pages Scam
Posted by: Denver SEO – Sean Hakes

YellowPages.com who is also known as YP or AT&T Interactive is better known as an online yellow pages business directory – for business owners it’s a service that’s filled with open ended advertising promises that will quickly drain your advertising budget or even your completely sabotage your business from very little ineffective results.

As a Digital Advertising & Media buyer I will no longer recommend YellowPages.com to any of our advertisers or any small businesses – period. Their crafty sales tactics combined with a long term contract are the exact tools that YellowPages.com rely on to lock into your cash while delivering less than desirable results – you can take that to the bank.

Lucky for our advertisers, our media buying services come with a full in-house legal counsel representation that is designed to act as a buffer from less than ethical businesses practices like that of YellowPages.com.

Here’s where it gets personal:

One of our clients were snickered into a stealthy contract that was based on exceptional results expectations that were almost too good to be true; and they were.

I got involved by sending Deann Mayeda, the Press and Media Contact for AT&T Interactive briefly telling her about my client’s dissatisfaction.

Deann quickly dismissed my claim and passed it down to a Colorado or Denver based YellowPages.com sales lead/manager. It seemed like she was eager not to address the problem while dropping the complaint to a lower level manager.

I’ll be kind to the lower level manager and not point him out but the base of the story is we came into an agreement to let this particular advertiser out of their contract based on misleading information, in other words a unethical sales tactics based on lies.

Since our default we’ve had two additional clients pop up who have had a terrible experience with YellowPages.com. All have said that Yellow Pages promised the world and delivered little to nothing – many of which bought into a bucket of clicks that typically turn into nothing more than useless traffic.

We’ve since opened this specific topic into a legal matter. If you feel YellowPages.com has misled you, I’d love to hear from you. Please leave your story in the comments section and email me at sean @ sean-h.com.

5 Smart Marketing Tips for Small Businesses

In today’s tough economy, small business owners often find themselves frustrated when trying to compete with large corporations for a fair share of the market. Most small business owners simply don’t have the same financial resources or knowhow to market their companies alongside the titans of industry. Here are five smart marketing tips to help keep your business in the running:

1) SERVE YOUR FRIENDS Many small business owners sometimes overlook their strongest marketing tools – their current customers. Small business owners hold a distinct advantage over larger companies because they are able to interact with each client at a much deeper level. If you are able to develop strong relationships with your current customers, they will want to return to you for years to come (and bring droves more customers with them).

2) GET ONLINE Don’t overlook the importance of the internet in today’s market. Recent research shows that over 92% of adults regularly research products online before buying them in stores*. Professional web development can help even the score with the big guys by giving a clean, professional appearance to your company. Be careful not to shortchange yourself on your website. It may be better to have no website at all rather than a poorly developed website. A professionally developed site can require a small investment up front; however the return on investment will be well worth it in the long run.

3) OPTIMIZE AND CONQUOR Having a great looking website is an important step, but it’s not much use to you if no one ever sees it. A strong Search Engine Optimization (Colorado SEO) talent can quickly put your website in front of hundreds or thousands of qualified buyers every month. Investing in a talented SEO company can lead to astronomical returns for a relatively low monthly expense.

4) BRAND THYSELF Just because you are a small business doesn’t mean you can’t look like the big guys. Personalizing company uniforms, pens, coffee mugs, Frisbees, or other items with your company logo can be surprisingly affordable and can help develop a strong brand image for potential customers. Not only will your company appear more stable, but occasionally giving away quality branded items (such as a coffee mug with your companies’ logo) may be a way to subtly advertise to that family on a daily basis.

5) BECOME A SOCIAL BUTTERFLY Small business owners can’t afford to be shy. Each and every time you come in contact with someone (familiar or new), try to let them know about your business. Certainly don’t be abrasive, but a surprising amount of leads can be developed by simply bringing up your passion in casual conversations. Everyone wants to have an “inside man” – all you need to do is let them know what you can offer them.

*http://www.smallbusinessnewz.com/topnews/2008/04/24/google-92-percent-of-customers-research-buys-first

Powerful Marketing Resources:

• SEO Company – SeanHakes.com
• Phoenix SEO – ScottsdaleSEO.net
• Denver Internet Marketing – DenverInternetMarketing.net
• Yodle – Yodle.com
• Denver SEO
• Contractor Marketing

iClick Introduces New VP of Operations

iClick Creative a Denver Marketing and Denver SEO Company has announced they have hired Denver SEO Expert and former Police Officer, Brandon Smith as their new VP of Operations.

Denver, Colorado – July 13, 2010 – A Denver based marketing and ad agency, iClick Creative, announced the appointment of a new VP of Operations today.  Brandon Smith will assume the position as the company moves forward into an exciting era for iClick.  Smith will be taking on one of many new positions expected to be created by iClick over the next several months.

iClick Creative specializes in web development and  Search Engine Optimization (SEO) services , focusing primarily on clients in the Denver area.  SEO is quickly becoming your businesses most important growth initiative as consumers make a web search their first step in shopping for  products and services.  iClick recently announced the launch of an innovative online interactive service called “iClick Chatback.”  The service allows online visitors to communicate directly with live operators, dramatically increasing client conversion rates from web traffic.  The firm anticipates creating as many as 20 new positions over the next few months. To learn more about iClick Chatback or other web marketing services, visit them online at www.iclickcreative.com.

iClick Creative offers powerful strategic internet marketing services  for clients.  Services include web development, Denver SEO services, visitor interaction, online social media optimization, and more.  iClick also has in house access to an in-house print advertising and Denver Web Design firm.

Live, interactive sales representatives – right on your webpage! Dramatically increase your companies’ conversion rates, and only pay for the quality leads delivered to your doorstep.

iClick Websites Drives Innovation and Performance Through iClick ChatBack

Denver, Colorado (April 23, 2010) iClick Media Websites, a leading Local Online Advertising Firm headquartered in Denver, CO today introduced iClick ChatBack, a innovative marketing tool that promotes user engagement and significantly increases website conversions and interaction between website visitors and small business owners.

The average website converts at 6%, iClick Performance Websites on average convert 15-20+%. The average small business website has an average fail rate (afr) of 94% which means 94% of website visitors leave for one reason or another. iClick Chat Back now allows strategic customer interaction with website visitors who typically wouldn’t contact or make a website purchase. In addition, iClick Chat Back serves as a tool to turbocharge any small businesses website marketing goals by promoting high performance website conversions and lead generation though this interactive chat-back feature.

iClick Chat Back comes as a complimentary service for all iClick Performance Websites and is also an affordable add-on for any small businesses looking to have their website ‘come alive’ with strategically targeted live ads that promote a greater ROI and lower cost-per lead (CPL) rate.

“We’ve made it clear that our clients are our first priority and we will continue to show our dedication to our clients by creating new innovative ways to capture more online visitors and deliver an even greater return on investment – period. iClick Chat Back is another way to help our clients thrive online and create a powerful, never seen before return on investment by promoting greater website visitor engagement.”

- Sean Hakes – President iClick Websites

Small business owners who have not yet experienced the difference and high-powered performance of an iClick Performance Website you can discover why more small business owners are switching to iClick Websites for all of their local online advertising needs – call any of the friendly iClick Websites staff members today: 1-800-496-1722

Contact: Josh Thill
iClick Websites, LLC

Phone: 303.954.4174
Fax: 866-931-7950
Email: josh@iclickmediagroup.com

Yodle Writes: Local Online Advertising For Dummies

New York, NY – April 13, 2010 – Yodle, a leader in local online advertising and the fastest growing local media company in the United States, is proud to announce the publication of Local Online Advertising for Dummies, which is available nationwide today. The book is co-written by Yodle CEO Court Cunningham and is an all-inclusive guide to local online advertising. It will give local business owners of all sizes the tools they need to find new customers through the Internet.

“Local business owners are the hardest working people I know, so I am excited about the opportunity to make their job easier in taking that critical step online,” said Yodle CEO and co-author of the book, Court Cunningham. “Yodle believes strongly in educating local business owners about the value of online advertising, and this book will empower them to make the best possible marketing decisions.” He adds, “A large number of people on the Yodle team contributed to this book, and I could not be more proud of the result.”

In the span of a decade, the number of consumers searching online for local businesses has gone from virtually nothing to more than 80%. Despite this shift in consumer behavior, there remains a significant amount of misinformation in the local business community about how to capitalize on this trend. This book is the first of its kind to take a holistic approach to educating local business owners on how to make the right advertising choices for their business. Other books have covered Facebook, website design or paid search advertising independently, but this book brings all of these topics and more into one complete marketing strategy.

“Local Online Advertising For Dummies helps companies plan and launch effective local advertising programs, draw traffic to their websites, create compelling social media campaigns, and more,” said Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher, Wiley Technology Publishing. “Co-Author Court Cunningham is a leader in the advertising industry and has included loads of practical how-to information and real-world advice.”

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About Yodle: Yodle, a leader in local online advertising and named fastest growing local online advertising company by industry analyst Borrell Associates, connects thousands of local businesses with consumers in a process so simple and cost-effective that business owners can’t imagine any other way to advertise. Yodle has developed an integrated approach to signing up and serving local businesses that are transitioning their marketing budgets online. Yodle is headquartered in New York, NY with a presence in 25 major cities across the United States. For more information on the book or to purchase a copy, please visit the Yodle Dummies® site.

For Dummies®: With near universal name recognition, more than 150 million books in print, and over 900 + topics, For Dummies is the world’s bestselling reference series. With loyal customers around the globe, For Dummies enriches people’s lives by making knowledge accessible in a fun and easy way. Described by the N.Y. Times as “more than a publishing phenomenon, but a sign of the times,” For Dummies span every section of the bookstore, covering everything from health to history, music to math, sports to self-help, technology to travel, and more. The Dummies brand has expanded into new products and categories with an extensive licensed product line, including fitness and hobby DVDs, grilling kits, business software, cleaning products, automotive kits, craft kits, and apparel. For more information, visit Dummies.com. For Dummies is a branded imprint of Wiley.

ReachLocal: TheStreet.com Podcast: Looking Back, Looking Forward

Gregg Greenberg’s podcast show ‘The Real Story’ talks to Zorik Gordon about the economic climate for local advertisers and how ReachLocal has shown growth.

Zorik’s interview begins 15:25 into the show. Click here for the download at TheStreet.com or you may download for free on iTunes by searching for The Real Story.

iClick Websites Launch: iClick Media Group

Denver, CO – March 12, 2010: iClick Media Group formally iClick Websites, LLC (www.iclickwebsites.com), a leading local internet advertising agency announced it has expanded its online marketing services to a full service online marketing and media buying agency.

iClick Media Group which has quickly grown to become a leader in online marketing services has proven itself as a fierce local advertising contender who provides not only traditional web design, seo, sem and social media marketing but overall online ad buying services for local businesses around the United States.

For more information on iClick Media Group please visit www.iclickmediagroup.com.

iClick Websites Secures Early Stage Financing

iClick Websites, LLC Secures Early Stage Financing

DENVER, Colo. – March 10, 2010 – iClick Websites LLC., a performance based local internet advertising company who provides small business owners with powerful, localized online marketing & tools has announced it has successfully closed an undisclosed amount of capital from a early stage private investor.

“iClick Websites is doing very well financially, that being said we are excited to have raised some additional early stage capital to invest in upgrading our technology as well as investing in great talent who can continue to provide award winning online marketing support and service to our growing customer base,” said Adriana Aguilar, President and General Manager for iClick Websites, LLC.

About iClick Websites, LLC

iClick Websites provides powerful local internet advertising services to small businesses around the United States. iClick’s recipe contains the secret sauce that allows small business owners the ability to thrive off a growing online community. iClick Websites services include professional web design, landing page design & tuning, user experience, search engine optimization, ppc management, graphic design, web hosting, domain name registration, performance analytics and call tracking.