Learn about Google’s master plan as Google CEO, Larry Page and his executive team share their latest innovations and vision for the future.

“We are delighted to be working with 1^st Franklin Financial,” said Denise Maling, AIS Media, EVP. “We look forward to collaboratively creating more relevant and visually stimulating email campaigns that spark higher response rates, greater customer engagement and clear return on investment (ROI).”

About 1^st Franklin Financial Corporation

1^st Franklin Financial has been engaged in the consumer finance business since 1941, particularly in direct personal and real estate loans. Headquartered in Toccoa, Georgia, the company operates through 270 branch loan offices located throughout Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee.  1^st Franklin’s commitment to providing friendly, professional service has made them a solid leader in the consumer loan industry.  The company offers customers a number of loan types including starter loans, personal loans, debt consolidation loans and more. 1^st Franklin also offers a Retail Sales Finance program to local businesses seeking to assist customers in purchasing their goods. 

About AIS Media

Founded in 1997, AIS Media, Inc. (www.aismedia.com) is a strategic digital marketing and creative agency proud to serve some of the best brands, companies and organizations in the world. AIS Media helps clients propel business and revenue growth through innovative digital strategy, digital marketing and award winning design.

ATLANTA, GA- May 1, 2013- AIS Media launched an interactive timeline for Georgia Economic Developers Association’s (GEDA), “50 Years of Building Georgia.” The timeline highlights Georgia’s progress in economic development and public policy in a fun, interactive experience. The timeline was unveiled for an enthusiastic audience at GEDA’s 50th Anniversary Luncheon at the Georgia Aquarium.

“The entire AIS Media team did a wonderful job of seeking to first understand the unique needs and wants we had for our project,” stated Mike Pennington, President of GEDA. “We did not receive a standard or canned solution; they were able to create a solution that worked for our specific project. GEDA is very pleased with our final interactive timeline.”

“We were honored to have been selected to partner with GEDA on this special project,” said Thomas Harpointner, AIS Media CEO. “It gave us an opportunity to deliver an innovative, interactive experience that highlights not only GEDA’s 50th Anniversary, but also how the association has benefited regions throughout the state of Georgia.”

The timeline can be explored on the GEDA website at: http://bit.ly/YGQKgc

About GEDA

The Georgia Economic Developers Association is a non-profit association of professionals and volunteers who are involved with the economic development of the cities and counties of Georgia. GEDA was organized to increase the effectiveness of individuals involved in the practice of economic development in Georgia by encouraging cooperation, exchange of information, and upgrading of professional skills. GEDA strives to achieve a closer working relationship among professionals and volunteers engaged in economic development in Georgia.

About AIS Media

Founded in 1997, AIS Media, Inc. (www.aismedia.com) is a strategic digital marketing and creative agency proud to serve some of the best brands, companies and organizations in the world. AIS Media helps clients propel business and revenue growth through innovative digital strategy, digital marketing and award-winning design.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – April 17, 2013 – Denise Maling, AIS Media, Inc. EVP, spoke at the League of Southeast Credit Unions (LSCU) and Affiliates yesterday on the use of leveraging content for both educational and marketing purposes. Denise has lengthy experience working in the credit union and financial services industries, having served as a featured speaker at numerous financial conferences. As EVP at AIS Media, Denise leads the agency’s financial services client initiatives.

“I’m delighted to collaborate with LSCU to help raise awareness of content marketing throughout the organization,” stated Maling. “At AIS Media, we’re proud to help clients embrace opportunities in the digital marketing landscape to propel business performance. The development and execution of an effective content marketing strategy is pivotal for businesses in the financial sector.”

“We chose Denise because presented for us in the past. Reaching out, communicating our needs, and receiving a timely proposal was seamless. Her seminar showed the staff that we each have a responsibility to understand our members’ challenges and make recommendations that lead to solutions. Denise provided an open opportunity to engage, have fun, and consider new ways to communicate with our credit unions. Feedback from the participants has been very positive and we look forward to seeing an increase in sales,” added Jason Neifield, SPHR, Director of Human Resources, LSCU.

About the League of Southeast Credit Unions

Representing 298 credit unions with $58 billion in assets and 6.3 million members, the League of Southeastern Credit Unions (www.lscu.coop) is the trade association for Alabama and Florida credit unions. LSCU was formed in 2009 by the consolidation of the Alabama Credit Union League and Florida Credit Union League and provides advocacy, compliance support, education, training, and information with relevant services and business strategies to support its members in fulfilling their mission.

About AIS Media

Founded in 1997, AIS Media, Inc. (www.aismedia.com) is a strategic digital marketing and creative agency proud to serve some of the best brands, companies, and organizations in the world. AIS Media helps clients propel business and revenue growth through innovative digital strategy, digital marketing, and award-winning design.

Wake Forest Innovations: http://www.WakeForestInnovations.com
Preclinical Translational Services:  http://www.wakepreclinicalservices.com
Core Lab Services:  http://www.wakecorelabs.com
Ultrasound Education: http://www.wakeultrasoundeducation.com
Wake Forest Innovation Quarter: http://www.wakeforestinnovationquarter.com

The launch of the Wake Forest Innovations web presence jump-starts operations at the new enterprise and serves to propel engagement among industry and business partners to commercialize Wake Forest’s wide range of licensable technologies and market its scientific services.

“Wake Forest Innovations needed to launch five highly complex, content-rich public websites at the same time on a single day,” said Eric Tomlinson, D.Sc., Ph.D., Chief Innovation Officer, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and president, Wake Forest Innovation Quarter. “AIS Media provided superb design and high-quality web infrastructure on budget and well within deadline, allowing our content team to ensure a successful, coordinated on-time launch.”

“Working with the Wake Forest Innovations executive team has been a thrill”, said Thomas Harpointner, Chief Executive Officer, AIS Media, Inc. “Our unique digital strategy aims to significantly accelerate global awareness of the Wake Forest Innovations brand, deliver a world-class user experience and drive demand for its licensable technologies and scientific services through digital media channels.”

 About Wake Forest Innovations
Wake Forest Innovations (WakeForestInnovations.com) is the commercialization enterprise of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, a fully integrated, internationally recognized academic medical center. Located in the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter (WakeForestInnovationQuarter.com) in Winston-Salem, N.C., Wake Forest Innovations establishes and manages new business and partnerships based on the innovative products and services that arise from ideas, discoveries and the scientific research assets of the Medical Center. The enterprise’s core services include:  Product Innovation & Commercialization Services – to stimulate the creation of innovation technology, products and services, and to license these to existing and start-up companies; Scientific Business Services – to structure, promote and contract the scientific research assets of Wake Forest to partners under competitive terms; and Innovation Quarter Services – to develop the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter as a hub for innovation in biomedical science, materials science and information technology.

About AIS Media
Founded in 1997, AIS Media, Inc. (www.aismedia.com) is a strategic digital marketing and creative agency proud to serve some of the best brands, companies and organizations in the world. AIS Media helps clients propel business and revenue growth through innovative digital strategy, digital marketing and award winning design.

 ATLANTA, GEORGIA – January 17, 2013  – Award-winning strategic digital marketing agency AIS Media, Inc. announced today that its CEO, Thomas Harpointner, served as keynote speaker at the Annual Printing and Imaging Association of Georgia (PIAG) annual Annual Business Meeting & Conference, “Print 2.0, Defining a New Era of Print.” Mr. Harpointner presented his “Top 13 Direct Marketing Strategies of 2013.”

Thomas Harpointner summarizes 2012 as being “A pivotal year in direct marketing, with decisive shifts in technology, business innovation and creativity.” He further explains that while some marketers continue to shift budgets from traditional to digital channels, studies show that the best results are achieved when digital and traditional marketing are deeply aligned. In his keynote presentation, Thomas Harpointner has identified the top 13 marketing strategies based on his agency’s 15 year experience developing high-performance digital strategies and campaigns for clients in a myriad of industries.

“We are delighted to have Thomas Harpointner make an encore presentation at our Annual Meeting on January 17^th,” said Randy Camp, President of PIAG. “The printing and imaging industry is constantly changing, and the key to success lies in the hands of those who embrace the right mix of marketing and media resources.  Thomas is well known for his grasp of the latest and most effective trends in our industry, and we look forward to his comments.”

The 2013 PIAG Annual Meeting focused on ways to progress clients and businesses in the printing and imaging industry. The event was held on Thursday, January 17^th, 2013 from 1:30pm to 6:00pm located at PIAG Headquarters in Smyrna, Georgia.

About The Printing & Imaging Association of Georgia (PIAG)

Since 1894, The Printing & Imaging Association of Georgia (PIAG) has been dedicated to advancing the success of Georgia’s printing and imaging industry. Working together with Printing Industries of America, the world’s largest graphic arts trade association, PIAG provides training, resources, and a voice of advocacy on both a state and national level. For details, visit: http://www.piag.org/.

About AIS Media

Founded in 1997, develops and executes creative digital marketing strategies and user experiences that consistently drive measurable business performance for some of the best brands, companies and organizations in the world. Learn more about AIS Media at: http://www.aismedia.com

See the top direct marketing strategies industry leaders will be employing in 2013 to drive business and revenue growth. Download the PDF of the presentation.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – January 7, 2013 – Award-winning digital marketing agency AIS Media, Inc. announced today that its CEO, Thomas Harpointner, is presenting at the Direct Marketing Association of Atlanta’s January Luncheon event to share “Top 13 Direct Marketing Strategies of 2013.” Mr. Harpointner will lead a panel of industry marketing experts in the discussion.

Thomas Harpointner summarizes 2012 as “A pivotal year in direct marketing, with decisive shifts in technology, business innovation and creativity.” Thomas Harpointner will identify the top 13 direct marketing strategies or 2013 based on his agency’s 15-year experience developing high-performance online marketing strategies and campaigns for clients in a myriad of industries.

The event will be held at Maggiano’s located in the Buckhead area on January 31^st, 2013 from 11:30am to 1:00pm. Seating is limited. Advanced registration is highly recommended. Become a member and save on membership fees!  Or, get involved and volunteer for an exciting association with a multitude of opportunities!

About The Direct Marketing Association of Atlanta
The Direct Marketing Association of Atlanta is a regional, professional association for all those interested in direct marketing. The DMA of Atlanta’s mission is to unify the direct marketing community, to build deep political grassroots in ways that enhance all direct marketers’ lobbying strength; to enhance the national and local educational, informational and networking opportunities; and to build membership locally and nationally. For details, visit: http://www.dma-atlanta.com/

About AIS Media
AIS Media develops and executes innovative digital marketing strategies. Founded in 1997, AIS Media’s award-winning team is known for its proven track record for consistently developing digital marketing programs and user experiences that drive measurable revenue and business growth for leading brands, organizations and Fortune 500 corporations. Learn more about AIS Media at: http://www.aismedia.com

It’s what every marketing executive is looking for — simple, straight-forward ways of convert more prospects into customers. While the Internet offers a plethora of web apps and tools that promise to aid you in achieving this task, here are 10 scientifically proven methods you can put to work to amplify the success of your marketing:

1. Break through “action paralysis” by setting minimums. Research by professor Robert Cialdini showcased how adding a minimum to a request increased donations for the American Cancer Society by 78%! Remind your customers how “easy” it is to get started. Offer “no payments for…”, etc.

2. Label your customers. As part of a “superior group” and their actions will reflect those characteristics.

In a  behavioral study examining voting patterns, researchers found that people who they randomly labeled as “politically active’ were 15% more likely to vote -- despite the fact that they were randomly chosen. 

3. Know the psychology of your buyers. Buyers can be placed in three primary types:

• 5% spendthrifts
• 24% tightwads
• 61% average spenders

By understanding the psychology of these three types of buyers, you can package your products, articulate your message in ways that speak to their listening e.g. for the budget conscious, bundle products and reduce the amount of small fees associated with your product.

4. Admit shortcomings. Fiona Lee, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at University of Michigan, concludes that customers are more trustworthy of companies who admitted “strategic failings” over those who blamed external sources for company problems.

5. Use Urgency the smart way. Urgency and scarcity are proven to increase sales, but according to research from Howard Leventhal, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Psychology at Rutgers University, people are prone to block out urgent messages if the are’t given information on how to follow up. Therefore, be sure to provide clear action steps for customers to take.

6. Make their brain “light up” instantly. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have shown that our frontal cortex is highly active when we think about waiting for something – that’s a bad thing for sales conversions as a confused mind makes no decisions.

To increase sales conversions, make the buying decision easy. Provide testimonials and references. Point out how your product or service will solve their problem “fast and easy”. Reduce steps they need to take to compete the order. Offer fast shipping or instant access (when applicable) to appeal to their desire for “instant gratification”.

7. Make an enemy. according to the Social Identity Theory by from social psychologists Henri Tajfel and John Turner, your self image is defined in part by the social group or groups you consider yourself to be part of. Apple, for example, attacked the PC users themselves, and drew a sharp distinction between Mac users and everyone else. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KSqDXFbn93U

8. Stand for something. Of customers who have a strong relationship with a single brand, over 64% said it was because they had shared values with the company in question.  Consider values your company has which your customers share. Perhaps a percentage of sales donated to a cause such as cancer research.

9. Devil’s Advocate. Ancient Catholic tradition demonstrates that when groups of people have their ideas questioned by a “devil’s advocate”, they actually increase their confidence in their original stance. Your business can play your own devil’s advocate to help increase buyer confidence. For example, address common concerns and dismissing them with well researched information.

10. Keep ‘em on their toes. Customers value consistency but love upside surprises. A study by psychologist Norbert Schwartz found that as little as 10 cents was enough to change the outlook of participants who found the money by surprise.

Source: HelpScout

Is Search Engine Optimization (SEO) a Vital Part of Your Online Marketing Strategy?

Right now, an online revolution is quietly under way. It’s completely changing the way search engines rank websites. The old search engine optimization rules — the foundation that tens of millions of websites were built on — are becoming obsolete. Most businesses will be caught completely by surprise. Understanding and acting on this new paradigm shift in search engine optimization could mean the difference between catapulting your website rankings, traffic, and visitor conversions and plummeting into a cyberspace black hole.

Understanding and acting on this new paradigm shift in search engine optimization could mean the difference between catapulting your website rankings, traffic and visitor conversions and plummeting into a cyberspace black hole.

By now, you probably already be familiar with the facts:

• 97% of consumers search online for products or services in their local area before they buy.¹
• 82% of people who use local search sites take action, e.g. call a business, visit a store or make a purchase.²
• 94% of users click on a first page result in search engines.

However, what you may not have considered are the major forces driving and keeping consumers online.

Google’s “Venice Update” refines organic search results. It utilizes localized signals. In essence, it automatically provides users local search results in many categories, even if they don’t specify a local area in their search.

Top 5 Ways Google’s “Venice” and M-Commerce are Impacting SEO

1. Mobile Internet Usage is Skyrocketing

Mobile Internet use is on track to overtake conventional desktop access by the end of 2013, according to Gartner Research. A new Rackspace survey shows how mobile is helping to drive an increase in impulse buying — mainly because “The process is so simple and the technology is so easy to use.” Until recently, consumers connected to the Internet solely via their desktop computers or laptops. Today, consumers are increasingly connecting to the Internet across multiple devices, both at work and on-the-go. Smartphones and tablet computers are rapidly changing how consumers search, shop, and socialize online. This cross-channel consumption is becoming increasingly important to advertisers and publishers seeking to engage their audiences.

2. Social Networking Now Improves Local SEO

You may not realize it, but clicking on Facebook’s “like” button signals what your general interests and likes are. Facebook monitors your behavior, and then takes this information to determine what to advertise to you and what not to advertise, taking into account not only interests but also location. This method of customer targeting specifically helps to determine the “relevant type of customer.” According to Search Engine Journal, “SEO and Social Media are interdependent now, and that connection extends to Local SEO.”

3.Ratings and Reviews Eliminate the Guesswork and Positively Impact Local SEO

Ratings and reviews of a business can turn a potential customer into a buying goods and services. It can eliminate doubt within an individual and close the sales process. The more reviews a business has, the stronger the local reputation. A study conducted by iPerceptions in 2011 indicated that “63% of customers are more likely to make a purchase from a site which has user reviews.” This overwhelmingly high percentage numerically reiterates the effectiveness and usage that ratings and reviews can dictate.

Another item to strongly consider about reviews and ratings is the ability it has to increase ranking positions. According to Dave Cosper of Search Engine Guide, after five or more positive reviews have been written on a business listing in Google Places, Google will boost its positioning in search results. This is yet another demonstration of impacting Local SEO.

4.Local Search Marketing and Local SEO

Marketers everywhere are monitoring huge shifts in search engine ranking positions. Google is continuously making updates in their algorithms to ensure that relevant results appear on their search engine results pages (SERPS). Local Search is targeted by online local directories. With a presence in online local directories, high authority link building is occurring simultaneously with increasing ranking positions in search engine results when industrial keywords are searched. Together with trusted link authority of major online local directories and Local SEO development within search engines, local search is now taking a top page permanent position.

5.Mobile Commerce Site Optimization Significance on the Rise

Nowadays, mobile technology is improving at such an incredible rate that consumers are finding it easier to do online searches using their smartphone. This shift in technology has made optimizing for mobile commerce sites more important now than ever before. A new study conducted by comScore has determined that 80% of U.S. smartphone users gained access to a mobile commerce website in July, a total of 85.9 million!  Consumers are shifting more and more towards using mobile devices for searching, especially for local results.

For savvy marketers, this presents a unique opportunity- Local Search Engine Optimization (Local SEO)

The purpose of Local SEO is to ensure prospective customers in your local area find your business at the exact moment they’re searching online for the exact products or services you sell.

Optimizing your website to achieve top search engine rankings is clearly more important than ever. However, the ground is shifting right underneath your feet and you’re probably not even aware of it.  It is becoming equally important to also get your business properly listed and optimized on the dozens of local search directories such as Yelp, CitySearch, Local.com, Foursquare, YellowBook, online maps, etc. Collectively, over 150 million+ people search on local directories every month. Properly optimizing your website for Local SEO helps your business increase the volume of phone calls, online leads, website visitors and sales. That’s because when consumers use search engines to find local businesses, their search is often geo-targeted. For example, they may search for “Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney” or “Best Heating and Air Conditioning Repair in Atlanta”. In addition, Google will deliver local search results by default. Studies show that 94 percent of users click on a first page result in search engines. Only 6 percent click on a second page result. That’s why it’s so critical to get your business ranked on the first page of search engines. To do so however, requires more than just optimizing the content of your website – it requires a full spectrum approach:

• On-site Search Engine Optimization  (SEO)
• Pay Per Click (PPC) Advertising (PPC ads will increase organic clicks)
• Local Search Optimization (Local Online Directories)
• Online Maps & GPS Devices
• Social Media Optimization
• Ratings & Review Sites

Get your free 360 Search Marketing Analysis and find out how high your business ranks against your top competitors here:  http://aismedia.com/360_search_marketing

About AIS Media, Inc. AIS Media is an award-winning, Atlanta-based online marketing and web design agency with a 15 year proven track record. AIS Media’s 360 Search Marketing program was specifically developed to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) attract new customers through local search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) management, and mobile search optimization.

¹ BIA/Kelsey Group’s User View Wave VII, an ongoing consumer tracking study conduce with research partner ConStat (2010). ²ComScore