Four Reasons You Should Hire a Marketing Intern

Recently, I was asked a question from the media about how technology is changing so rapid, and they wanted to know my thoughts on this. WOW!  REALLY, technology is changing daily these days so what is there to say.  GET ON ABOARD OR WHAT?  So, I responded with this answer...."yes, technology is evolving rapidly and people better educate themselves regularly or be faced with adding ZERO VALUE to many companies by 2015.  Can you imagine what 2015 will look like in the United States and beyond?  Baby-boomers moving on and the younger generations up." So I continued with the conversation with "technology innovation is out of control, yes this is true, but so is marketing.  The internet has created an incredible opportunity for brands, and marketing is no longer about running an ad, TV commercial, radio spot, snail-mail, or cold calling.  It is all about search engine marketing, email campaigns, social networking, channel partners and mobile strategies.  I finished with this statement, "technology is useless without customers."

What is my point here? Hiring an intern to assist with marketing can be a cost-effective way to give your business a competitive edge.

What can a marketing intern bring to your business?


1. Social Media Savvy

If your business doesn’t have a Twitter or Facebook account, bring a marketing student on board. Social media sites are now marketing powerhouses, says Rhonda Abrams, president of The Planning Shop and author of a popular business column for USA Today. After hiring marketing interns, she has exponentially increased her social media presence, which means she can easily reach out to potential clients and keep current clients better in the loop.

Marketing students are learning how to best use social media tools in their classes. By bringing students on board, they’ll save you the time and energy of having to teach yourself these new skills. With their social media knowledge, marketing interns will have a better grasp of what strategies you should pursue online.

2. Spirit! They’ve Got Spirit! Yes, They Do

Deborah Sweeney, CEO of My Corporation, says, “An intern is actively pursuing you because they believe in the industry you’re working in, in the services that you provide. They want to help your company, not hinder it, and are willing to go the distance in extra research and attention spent on projects.”  When you hire an intern, you know that she is working with your company because it specializes in a field the intern wants to someday pursue. Your marketing intern has not accepted the position because she needs to put food on the table or pay bills. Your intern is there because she wants to be there. It’s not a stereotype that young people are more energetic and enthusiastic. They haven’t been working at the same job for the past decade, with stagnant and outdated skill sets. They’re not struggling to run a business. Marketing students have the passion that you started off with when you began your business, and that can offer a much needed injection of inspiration.

3. Word of Mouth Advertising

When your marketing intern has a positive experience at your business, he will become your brand’s advocate. He will tell his parents, friends, professors, anyone that will listen, about how great your company is. That means that you raise your profile and possibly gain more clients in the bargain.Of course, you won’t get a brand advocate if all your intern does is get coffee and file paperwork. You have to be a mentor to him and teach the skills required for success in your field—skills that the student wouldn’t learn in class. Moreover, if the internship is onsite, make sure to provide the intern with everything he will need to fulfill the duties of the position. Also, set clear goals for the internship, so everyone involved knows what they’re getting into.

4. Future Employees

Today’s marketing intern could be tomorrow’s employee. The National Association of Colleges and Employers has consistently reported that 20-25% of new hires are sourced from the employer’s own internship program. It’s a statistic that makes sense. When you bring on an intern, you choose someone with the skill set you require as well as enthusiasm for the field. You choose an employee based on the same criteria.

So, why spend the resources and effort looking for someone outside of your office when your newest employee could be staring you right in the face? Your intern has the talents you’re looking for, and she obviously wants to be in this field. Bonus: You invest less time and money training an intern-turned-employee because she is already familiar with the position and company.

To find a marketing intern, approach your local college or university’s career services department. Staff members are accustomed to dealing with such requests, and they will help you navigate the paperwork and hiring process. You and the school will decide whether the internship will be paid or for college credit.

Before you contact the career services department, take some time to write out a detailed yet concise description of the intern’s duties. If all this sounds like a great deal of work, you’re right. Finding the right marketing intern will involve an investment of effort on your part. However, bringing in a young, passionate student will be well worth it for your business.

Protecting Our Clients from 3rd Party Websites!

One of our many business initiatives at SMC Software is to protect our clients.  Please read below, and if you are unclear about its severity to your business, please pick up the phone and call us to learn more.

After finding three of our client’s Google Places listing hijacked in the last 48 hours by an aggregator website, it is imperative that you become very vigilant with policing your brand listings on the web.  RIGHT NOW, TODAY!  If not, there will be serious consequences in the long term. 

PARKWHIZ is the latest aggregator entering the airport parking space.  PARKWHIZ is a third party website that started in the urban/event/cruise market place.  In a conversation this morning with PARKWHIZ (see email below my signature line), the company representative was put on the spot hard in regards to our client’s listings being hijacked. In short, they choked up a cat hair and agreed to fix the problem within two hours.  We shall see as the day progresses. 

WARNING – WARNING – WARNING… 

If you play with fire, you’ll get burnt; eventually.  

If you dance with the devil, the devil doesn't change; the devil changes you.  

If you sleep with the enemy, this is considered undesirable and dangerous; detrimental to ones livelihood.

Read these articles to support:

Google Places Listing Hijacked - Why You Need To Regularly Check Your Listing!

http://www.mylocalbusinessonline.co.uk/google-places-listing-hijacked/#axzz1vqm04b3Q

Google Places Tips - What Are Citations?

http://www.mylocalbusinessonline.co.uk/google-places-tips-citations/#axzz1vqmwYVfw

Google's concerted efforts to do their best to correct any copyright infringement.  They offer a FAQ's page that explains the purpose of a report that they make publicly available (to let the world know that they are doing their part).  Also, notice the statement "material that allegedly infringes copyright" in the first paragraph (under the heading "What is a copyright removal request?").

Google Transparency Report

http://www.google.com/transparencyreport/removals/copyright/faq

Removing Content From Google

http://support.google.com/bin/static.py?hl=en&ts=1114905&page=ts.cs

(NOTE:  On the link above, click "AdWords " and then "Web Search " to see how they are trying to assist copyright/brand owners)

If your local business listing is claimed (or hijacked) by an aggregator or competitor, you will lose complete control the branding/messaging of the content, surrender your rankings in the search results, diminish unique visitors to your website and concede defeat, not mention miss out on demographics, customer information and reporting.

Please take this seriously, and take immediate action on policing your brand online.

Communication is Life! At Home and the Workplace...

The Most Undervalued Analytics Tool: Communication

                            

Communicating with your Team.

Often, analytics teams struggle to communicate even within their group. The communication problem may be a result of the organizational structure, such as decentralized analysts across an organization—or conflicting personality types.

Failure to communicate within a team can lead to inconsistent methodology among analysts, as well as duplication of work. For example, two stakeholders may approach two analysts for the same report or analysis. A failure to communicate may not only result in a waste of resources but also cause duplicate analyses with different results because of an inconsistent methodology. That procedural blunder typically wastes further resources to determine which information is accurate and to uncover why the data differ.

Here are five tips analysts should keep in mind when working in a team environment.

1. Talk to one another

The value of face-to-face conversation is sorely overlooked these days. Far too much communication takes place over email or via instant messaging. However, the complexity of analytics discussions means email is often not an ideal forum. A short, 10-minute meeting can quickly resolve what would otherwise require hours of back-and-forth discussion via email.

2. Schedule short, regular meetings

A quick daily check-in can work wonders. In just five or 10 minutes, analysts can discuss what they're working on, what they're struggling with, or what they've delivered recently. That can spur the "Wait, I completed something similar to that last month. Let me find it for you!" conversation, which can help reduce duplication of work or even allow analysts to help one another with challenges.

3. Keep documentation

Monitor and document your processes, data sets, and deliverables. Yes, doing so is boring and time-consuming; nevertheless, it's important.

4. Maintain a central repository

Having a central place to store analytics work, especially if you can tag the work by topic, allows analysts to search for related analyses. Even keeping a common Google Doc that lists the analyses the team has completed (with a brief description of each analysis) is extremely helpful.

5. 'Share' meetings

Consider hosting regular meetings for analysts to present findings from recent analyses. Such "share" meetings will provide insight into what other analysts are working on and give analysts a chance to practice their presentation skills.

As companies grow; as technology evolves; as consumers become more demanding; and as competitors get aggressive with marketing, staying updated on what your employees are working on becomes more difficult. Share meetings are a great way to get everyone on the same page.

* * *

99.9% of problems (personal or work related) can be blamed on failure to communicate. That known, think about the consequences to making communication your #1 priority! 

Do Not Rule Out BING as a search tool to find your business!

BING-Powered Share of US Search Reaches 30% in April

Published on May 15, 201

BING-powered searches—those served by BING.com and search.yahoo.com—accounted for 30.01% of all US searches conducted in the four weeks ended April 28, 2012, up 5% from the previous month and 11% from the previous year, according to data from Experian Hitwise.  BING accounted for 14.32% of searches in April, up 5% from the previous month and 16% from the previous year, while Yahoo accounted for 15.69% of searches, up 5% from March and 7% from April 2011.

 

Even so, Google retained the largest share of search in April with 64.42%, 

down 3% from the previous month and 5% from the previous year. The 

remaining 65 search engines in the Hitwise Search Engine Analysis report

 accounted for 6.51% of US searches.

Longer Search Queries Increase

The number of longer search queries—those averaging searches of five to eight words—increased 2% from March, while the number of shorter search queries—those averaging one to four words in length—was unchanged.  Searches of one-word comprised the plurality of searches, some 28.63% of all queries as of April, up 19% from the previous year. 

NOTE:  When the Windows 8 release hits the market (for most recent update - click here) later this year, you will see BING's numbers grow exponentially.

Congrats to Bill Guerrero and Team at Purchase Park2Fly

HAPPY 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
TO BILL GUERRERO AND TEAM!

Please click on the link below to read a recent article on the company.

http://westfaironline.com/22516/purchase-college-startup-takes-off-with-fliers/

In addition, please click on this link to better understand how a social media strategy will boost your business LIKES and NEW/LOYAL CUSTOMERS. http://www.facebook.com/PurchasePark2Fly

Philip Sanford, Marketing Coordinator at PP2F, is in a world of his own.  From designing the company's Ads to Facebook Pages to Email Marketing Campaigns to building Landing Pages on the website for channel partners, and I am sure there is much more, Phil is building online customer loyalty unlike many in the parking industry.  Speaking of Facebook, PP2F records a record 136 reservations since January 12, 2012.  Remarkable!

10 Annoying Things About Your Website That Drive People Away

DIRECT AND TO THE POINT ARTICLE ON WEBSITE DESIGN AND FLUFF!

How many times have you visited a website and ended up be sorely disappointed?  Or worse, annoyed as all get out?  The answer for most people is an easy one: a lot!  So, here are a list of the 10 things that annoy people the most about websites. Maybe you’ll agree; maybe you won’t.  Let’s see…

10. Music

Music blares the minute I visit your site. That is unexpected, disruptive, and downright rude, from a customer experience standpoint. And, in case you weren’t sure, it ticks off me (and most people) more than just about anything. Wake up and smell the coffee! That is so 2001. Frankly, it wasn’t cool even back then—but today, music on your website can mean the kiss of death.

9. Flash

Your “awesome” Flash website takes forever to load and then blasts me with all these neat-o visuals that require me to twiddle my thumbs and waste precious time. I need information, not entertainment. Get over yourselves. Quit listening to your creative team (and if they’re recommending Flash, hire a new team), and maximize the three seconds of attention I’m willing to give you by telling me something I want or need to know.

8. Pop-ups

Pop-up ads (and that’s what they are) make me want to kill you. Yeah, I know they’re effective at boosting click-through rates. I still hate ‘em. Stop it. Using pop-up ads tells me you don’t care about my experience—you just want to sell me crap. It’s like going on a first date, and having the date say, “Let’s fool around” before dinner hits the table. It’s too much. Too soon. I don’t care what the experts say. Pop-up ads make me want to leave.

7. Contact Info

Sure, I have a lot of patience and free time. I really WANT to have to dig through your bleepin’ site to find your contact information. That makes my life super-easy. Go ahead, hide it! Or better yet, don’t put contact info on there at all. That’s one way to ensure we don’t ever work together.

6. Mystery

Websites that don’t tell me what you do (or no call-to-action), why I need what you do, and what it’s gonna cost me are downright ineffective. I don’t want to dig for pricing. I want the information, and I want it now. Being coy might work when you’re dating, but when it comes to business, I’m like Sergeant Friday on Dragnet. Just the facts, ma’am. You’ve got about three seconds of my time and attention—use it wisely. And copy that’s “mysterious” is not.

5. Down the Rabbit Hole

Contact pages that make us feel like Alice in Wonderland? Not prudent. And when your contact form leads us to default email programs that we can’t stand, they cause us to immediately leave your site. For instance, I don’t use Mail; I don’t want to use Mail. And when your contact form automatically loads Mail for me, it makes curse words flow out of my mouth that are very unladylike. WHAT are you thinking? Stop it. Please.

4. Black Backgrounds

Black backgrounds are nearly IMPOSSIBLE to read. With very few exceptions (there are some sites done very well by people who know what they’re doing, but they are rare), cut it out. Black backgrounds stink. And if your Web-design team thinks those backgrounds are cool, do your homework. Ask people who know about converting the leads that come to your website to sales about the performance of sites with dark backgrounds. After all, isn’t that what you’re really interested in—leads that you can convert to sales?

3. Miniscule Text

Fonts that are too small can be remedied by a surfer; I’ll give you that. But it annoys me when I have to manually bump up the type. And I’m thinking that if you really think about what you want from a site visitor in terms of actions, it’s not making themdo something to learn more. Tell your Web developers with young eyes that it’s often old folks like me who are making the buying decisions. The “default” font most Web developers use is almost ALWAYS too small. Bump it up a notch. Or three. You’ll be amazed at how much happier your Web surfers will be. Know who your customers and prospects are; serve them information that is easy for them to consume—without the need for modifications.

2. An Undesired Delivery

I consume a lot of content. And when I find yours—and I like it—I want to read more. And I want it delivered to my email inbox, not my Reader, which I use for different things. When your blog doesn’t take that into consideration, I know you’re not paying attention. And I know you don’t care about me as a consumer, you’re only thinking about how you like information delivered. Newsflash: It’s not about you. A vast majority of content consumers are just like me. They want content delivered to their email inbox rather than subscribing via an RSS feed. When you overlook that and when you don’t offer me an option that suits my consumption preferences, it tells me you’re not paying attention.

1. Anti-Social

Where are the buttons displaying where to find you on the Web? I keep running across websites that have social sharing buttons on them, but when you click on the buttons, instead of taking you to say, for instance, someone’s Facebook page, it allows me to share your page of content on Facebook. Seriously? As if I want to share your “About” page on Facebook? No, dummy. What I’m looking for is your brand presence on Facebook (or Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.)—maybe because I want to “like” you there and pay attention to what you’re doing. Not having social sharing buttons shows me that you’re not participating in the social media space (whether that’s really the case). And it also shows me that you have no idea that I’m judging you—and your level of savviness about the digital space and the importance of social networks—based on their absence. Is that what you want? Really?

The Bottom Line

Don’t be egocentric when it comes to Web design. Know who your audience is and what they come to your site looking for. Or what you want them to come to your site looking for. Let your Web analytics play a huge rule in this process. Focus on creating a user experience that respects users’ needs and makes it easy for them to find the information they seek. Make sure your site has a navigation system that makes sense. And when you’re developing it, step outside the group of people working on the nav design and ask for feedback from others. Test your theories before implementing them. You’ll be surprised how often you’ve made assumptions that aren’t quite right. Sometimes, we’re so close to our own businesses and our own designs that we can’t be objective.

Great design is cool. And cool is nice. But that isn’t enough when it comes to effective online marketing. A beautifully designed website that has a crappy user experience serves up zero results. Great design paired with navigation that’s well-thought out and content that does the job it’s supposed to do? Those make a website work. Creating an effective Web experience that actually turns site visitors into leads and allows you the opportunity to convert those leads into sales—that’s what effective online marketing is all about.

When it comes to SEO, listen to Google!

Three SEO Don'ts Straight From Google

Published on April 30, 2012

When you work in SEO, it might seem that Google is always trying to trip you up. But that's not really the case, argues Brandignity: "They don't dislike all SEOs because ... we actually help catalog information and pages; that in turn helps their search identify which pages make sense to showcase." In fact, the search engine giant is more than happy to give advice—such as a video from Google's Developer Programs Tech Lead Maile Ohye, in which she discusses common errors that SEOs make.

Here are three:

Working on SEO before your site has a value proposition. What sets your company, product, or service apart from your competition? Perhaps your retail shop is the city's oldest independent dealer, offers free repair estimates—or is actually a nonprofit business. "If you want to stay on top," Ohye advises, "searchers need a value prop to click on your site, to come back and revisit your site, and to recommend your site to their friends." 

Implementing SEO strategy from an isolated silo. Tear down those walls. With open communication among your marketing, business development, and SEO teams, your optimization efforts properly address the entire user experience—from marketing campaign to conversion. "And, potentially, repeat business," Ohye adds.

Getting caught up in SEO trends. In the beginning, websites and search engines both chased the user. But then something went wrong and websites began chasing search engine algorithms. Around 2005, for instance, many SEOs started gaming the Google algorithm with optimal keyword density. "Not a great use of their time," Ohye notes, since they'd have achieved better results with compelling, informative, readable content.

The Po!nt: Use your noodle; listen to Google. If you're going to take SEO advice from anyone, Google is as reliable a source as it gets.

SMC is helping parking customers all across the country with a proven internet strategy.  As stated many times over, it begins with an professionally structured (friendly architecture) website for search engine spiders and crawlers to find your company.  The internet is game, and the rules are changing faster than the U.S. Tax Laws.

Five Tips to Increase Email Click-Through Rates

Here are five things you can do with your message to generate more clicks in your emails.

 

 1. Restate your key benefits
 

Hopefully, you've made your point in the body of your email and provided the key reasons recipients should take action. Usually, those reasons are the key benefits of responding to the call to action. For example:

• No Reservation Fees
• Park 7 Days and get One Day Free
• Complimentary Shuttle, Water, Coffee, etc

2. Make another promise or introduce a surprise benefit

If you're following basic copywriting guidelines, your message is focused on a single powerful idea (called, appropriately, the "Big Idea").  Let's say you've made a promise and talked about the key benefits, but, unfortunately, email recipients have read all the way to your signature and haven't clicked the link. Try offering another promise or a surprise benefit in your post script to jolt them from their stupor and move them into action.

• LIKE US on Facebook to receive special offer

3. Provide more credibility

Perhaps your email recipients aren't clicking because they don't believe you or what you're saying. Maybe you're pitching too soon in the sales cycle; maybe your offer doesn't offset their doubts at this point; or maybe your email address is not believable (i.e. joepark@aol.com). You must demonstrate a credible image to offer more proof or credibility ... hopefully pushing readers over the edge.

4. Communicate urgency

You can communicate urgency in many ways, and most of them aren't believable. I'm sure you've been to a landing page that shows the number 500 crossed out with the phrase "only 19 remaining!" next to it. Return to that site a year later, and you'll see the same numbers. Some sense of urgency! Urgency works only when it's real. You can't say you've got a limited supply of e-books, for example. Even the most naive shopper would see through that ploy. You can, however, use urgency when a timeline or limitation exists.

5. Restate or expand on your guarantee

If you've got a good guarantee, by all means, flaunt it in your message.  For example:

• Book Online on our Website for the lowest rate....Guaranteed!
• Best Price Guarantee found at www.takecareofmycar.com!
• No Reservation Fees!

 

Email Marketing Advice and Sample

Make sure your marketing emails practice the K.I.S.S. method: Keep It Simple and Smart!

Whatever the offer is in your email campaign, it is good practice to keep your message direct, short and action-driven.  It is a known fact that people are more visual than they are readers in today's society.  Don’t blast your list offers everyday or every week because they’ll drop off your list faster than you can blink an eye. Treat them like you would a friend, by sending relevant information mixed in with soft pitches to buy your service on a monthly basis.

Marketing emails must have a familiar preview and subject line!

Most people decide if an email is interesting by previewing the subject line without opening the email.  Use the subject line to summarize the email content. The subject line should tell the email content, not sell the email content. Keep your subject line to 50 characters or less. Avoid writing your subject text with capital letters. Avoid using flashy promotional texts or exclamation marks.

To increase the success rate of your marketing emails, make sure your sender name is visible, trustworthy and easily recognized.  This is important:   Do not send marketing emails from generic-looking email addresses, like joesparking@aol.com or gotparking@gmail.com.  Send your marketing emails from an email address that triggers the feeling "I know who sent this email".   Knowing and trusting the sender is the primary reason for opening an email.

 

Social Media Video

Not long ago - the year was 2000 - we heard many people and companies make "non-belief" comments about the internet like many do today with social media.  Kind of funny when you think about it.

Social media has captured the attention and awe of the marketing world with the promise of increased customer engagement and lower marketing costs. Yet behind the buzz lies the question of how to measure its success. With no standard means of measurement, it is difficult to decipher the value of different platforms and determine the true ROI of social media marketing. To make sense of the situation, SMC wants to share an eye-opening video based on recent findings and figures. Watch this short video on the facts, factors, methods and metrics that businesses need to know in understanding the real return of social media.

Android. Apple. Microsoft. And Blackberry and Palm? It's now how you start, but how you finish!

What will 2012 be like for consumers and businesses with respect to smart phones, tablets and desktops?  And where does SMC fit in with this fast-moving and continually evolving technology industry?

To answer the first question, we found a recent article to share with you.  So, if you have any of the mobile devices mentioned above or plan to purchase one in the near future, the information provided may help you in determing a long term business strategy.  Click Here to read article.

For the second question, SMC is truly "skating to where the puck is going".  As a Microsoft shop, SMC will continue to build and support the latest and greatest technologies for our clients to save time and money while staying current with todays (and tomorrows) innovation.  It is easy to get excited about SMC's future.

Assuming most of you are using Microsoft Office Suite in your home or at your office, then we believe you will find Windows 7.5 (soon to be Windows 8) to be an awesome upgrade.  A centralized environment (Phone, Tablet, PC, Bing, Office Suite and much more) to make life easier with a single touch.  To help you learn a little more about Microsoft's plan to launch their new 'Live Tile' application on Tablets and Desktops, here are some images of devices along with a short video. 

Mobile

Tablet

 

Desktop

Click Video to See the Future

As a user of the new Windows Mobile OS (Operating System), here is my testimonial:

"I have had a mobile device connected to my hip and ear since 1989.  I have used at some point in my life most high end smart phones.  There is a big difference between finding hundreds of apps on a phone to having live tiles updating your favorite apps real time.  The Windows Smart Phone is fun, simple and logical.  Can't wait for the Tablet and PC version to integrate all the apps".   M. Harley

REVIEWS: How important are they? One word "very"!

Customer Reviews are essential for several reasons.  Let's focus on just two of them for this posting.

Reputation - I always say that people do not read as much as they use to.  Most would agree, and statistics show the majority is visual.  Enough said.  Fact is, people read reviews, good or bad, and then make a decision based on others experiences.  Have you ever read a really bad review of a product or service, and thought, I'll buy it anyway.  Not likely!  Your online reputation is everything.  If a customer is happy, get a review.  And if you don't know how, please continue reading.

Run a test on anyone under the age of 35 and ask if they read reviews on their Smart Phone/PC before making a purchase.  This should curve your thinking a little.

Search Engine Marketing - Reviews mean content, and content means search-ability on Google, Bing, and Yahoo.  It really is that simple.  You can either play in the game or watch the game being played.  Many people are happy and/or content with status quo (or doing the same thing over and over again with hopes to receive a different result).  If you want help getting your business to be front and center, reviews will help in the process.

Having said that, please Click Here to learn the Top 10 Tips for collecting Reviews from your Customers.

Facebook - Parking Reservations

SMC announced at its first annual User Conference a powerful, leading edge tool only found with the big boys, and by big boys, I mean Delta, Marriott, Hertz, etc.  Please click here to find the first parking company in the world to have a Centralized Reservations System (CRS) on their Facebook page.  (NOTE: if you have problems with this link, please go to Facebook (enter facebook.com/purchasepark2fly) and click the Reserve Now link on the left side of page.  Simple, Fast, Friendly and Rate/Inventory Controlled.

IT'S HERE:    FACEBOOK RESERVATIONS SYSTEM

SMC is ready if you are.  And if you are not, you need to prepare your business accordingly for 2012.  Social Networking is here to stay and a proven strategy will drive customers into your business.

Simply said, if it is so easy to embed a real-time Centralized Reservations System (CRS) on a Facebook page, why has it taken so long for the online industry leaders in TRAVEL to make it happen?  The quick answer is ... time, money and resources.  SMC has spent countless hours to bring our customers the "best of the best" technology, not to mention years of expertise pertaining to internet marketing tactics.    

For those of you who attended our User Conference, your cost to embed the reservations system on your Facebook page is only $200.  If you did not attend, and we are sorry you could not join us, your cost to embed the reservations system on your Facebook page is $300.  Both promotional prices are good through January 31, 2012.  For any request to embed the reservations system on your Facebook page after January 31, 2012, the cost is $400.

All orders will be delivered by March 1, 2012.  

Verizon: $2 Convenience Fee Fiasco

If Donald Trump is famous for anything, it is his "You're Fired" on the Apprentice TV show. Similar to the "That was easy" button by Staples, you can purchase writing pens with Trumps voice.

I can see the Verizon boardroom when the decision was made to charge consumers a convenience fee for paying their bill online.  I would have loved to be a fly on the wall.  I can assure you that one or more executives made this statement... "Just because the banks failed at charging a convenience fee does not mean that VERIZON will not get away with it."  This deserves mentioning again - GET AWAY WITH IT!  If we the people are willing to pay a self-serving convenience fee, then why not, right?  Imagine pulling your vehicle up to a gas station and you are prompted with a $2.00 convenience fee to fill your own tank when paying with a credit card. Hmmm...

Hello, most consumers, the majority, are no longer stupid to these tactics.  It is true that some are naive, but this will surely change over time. 

My point is simply this.  Any company who charges consumers a fee (convenience or whatever) to transact online will face scrutiny and eventually experience some brand damage.  Could your participation on a third party website create a bad experience for your customers?  If the answer is yes, maybe or not sure, for whatever the reason, remember VERIZON.  Story!

One of Six Trends to Watch Out for in 2012

SOCIAL SHARING. Ideas, opinions, media, status updates are all part of what makes social media a powerful and often disruptive force. The media industry was one of the first to understand this, adding sharing options to content, which led to more page views and better status in search results. What comes next in social sharing is more closely aligned with e-commerce or web transactions. For example, Sears allows a user to share a product or review with their networks directly from the site. Sharing that vacation you just booked, or recommending a product, or service from any site to a social network is where sharing goes next. We probably don't know what we are willing to share until we see the option to do it. 

Isn't it about time we show you how to add a "Reserve A Space" link on your Facebook page?  And then direct your follower to a page for transacting and tracking?  This is the future and you can have it now.

We will share the "LIKES" of this strategy at the Client User Conference.

This is last posting for 2012.  

Happy Holidays from your friends at SMC!

Have you ever said to yourself or others? "I wish I took the time to learn more about ..."

2012:  Please think for a few minutes on what consumers (you and your customer) will be introduced to with respect to information (the expanded fast moving, internet highway), technology (simple cloud-based software accessible anywhere), devices (mobile apps managing daily routines) and media (socially connected through various channels) in the year ahead.  Transformation, also known as change of circumstance, is very scary to most people, especially in business!  Why?  Because management will have to adapt or simply get left behind, thus resulting in lost market share.

For the entrepreneur, executive vice-president, general manager, or recent college graduate, I highly recommend you begin preparing yourself to take advantage of market opportunities and help ensure growth, whether personal or business. 

I found an excellent 20-minute presentation on YouTube that I want to share with everyone.  We can always use fresh information in our business life.  And if I had to take a guess, the audience in the room paid over $500 to attend this conference. But for you, it's FREE.  Enjoy!

2012: What is your online strategy?

A successful online marketing program is more than just a web site. It’s integrating online marketing with your overall business goals. It’s using the best technology available to reach the right customers at the right time. It’s identifying measurable goals and developing the best programs to achieve those results.
Building an online strategy consists of:

• Search engine optimization (SEO) programs
• Pay per click (PPC) campaigns
• Directory listings
• E-mail marketing campaigns
• Setting up channel partners
• Social Networking

In review of the above, if you do not have a clear understanding of these strategies, I strongly recommend you take the time to learn, and quickly.  To get the most from any of these, you need to exploit the unique advantages of each to achieve specific goals.

The Client User Conference will help you: 

• Define your business goals
• Identify your Key Performance Indicators and Measurables
• Learn what your competitors are doing
• Understand your targeted users and determine how your site and all your online marketing programs will help them achieve their own goals

By visually showing you, SMC will develop your online strategy that will ensure a strong return on your time and investment, drive conversions and sales, and grow your business.

SMC cares about your business.  Let us help you thrive in 2012! 

Private lots take away parking revenue from Tampa International Airport

U.S. Airport Authorities are aggressively seeking ways to increase revenues, efficiencies and positioning its brand in the market place.  With many confirming that their parking business is the 2nd largest revenue source, it is only a matter of time before some Airport Authorities implement a reservations system.  Although many off-airport parking companies think "...why would they do that", there are 20 good reasons.   

To read a recent article on an Airport Authority "preparing to fight back", please CLICK HERE.

Text Messaging in the USA

CLICK HERE NOW TO READ SOME STAGGERING STATISTICS AND TRENDING!

Ever heard of Zingle?  What's a Zingle??

Please click here to learn more about this company.

Late last year, I spoke to a small parking operator who removed his company information from the baggage claim area of the airport and saved over $10,000 annually.  This company implemented Zingle's program.

Earlier this year, we learned that over 70 airport operators were using Zingle at their company for sole purpose of providing a text messaging service for returning parkers (pick-up at the airport).  And when asked about the new digital customer service concept, many of these operators said their customers "love it".

A few months back, Zingle contacted SMC for a possible integration partnership.  After several meetings, SMC decided to move forward in working together with Zingle.  In the weeks/months to come, SMC will be testing this system integration service in a few markets.  With Zingle attending the User Conference in January, we hope to provide a demonstration to you.

If you would like to reach out to Zingle, please contact Henkel Smith at 858.207.6324 or hsmith@zingleparking.com.

PCI DSS: The Importance of Securing Payment Information

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a widely accepted set of compliance policies, rules and procedures designed to ensure the security of credit and debit card transactions and protect cardholders against identity fraud, America's fastest growing crime.

The goal of PCI DSS is to ensure the security of payment card data by education and issuing a set of standards. The card brands require that processors have compliant merchants, and the processors in turn require the merchants to comply. Fines and loss of credit card acceptance are the risks to the business.

Click Here Now to familarize yourself with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).  Why?  Because PCI DSS is important to a business wanting to avoid fines and the risks of noncompliance in the event of a breach of security both internal and external.

Q: To whom does PCI DSS apply?

A: PCI DSS applies to ALL organizations or merchants, regardless of size or number of  transactions, that accepts, transmits or stores any cardholder data. Said another way, if any customer of an organization ever pays the merchant directly using a credit card or debit card, then the PCI DSS requirements apply.

If you would like to learn more about PCI DSS, Register Now for the Client User Conference where we will share our experiences in order to help you prepare your business for the inevitable.